Make the most of December’s very best ingredients, from moist sweet potatoes to crisp, crunchy apples and mild Savoy cabbage
Want to know what’s good and in season in December? Looking for December recipe ideas? Use moist sweet potatoes, crisp, crunchy apples and mild Savoy cabbage from your local greengrocer to make these seasonal dishes and bakes. We’ve included plenty of tips for how to shop for particular varieties, prepping guides and useful ideas for using leftovers. Explore our sweet potato recipes, apple recipes and cabbage recipes for fresh ways to make the most of December’s seasonal produce. Sweet potatoes The sweet potatoes you’ll typically find in supermarkets are orange-fleshed, moist and sweet. Not as widely known is the white sweet potato, also called boniato. Available in Caribbean and Asian supermarkets, it's also known as kumara or Caribbean sweet potato. It has creamy white insides, is drier and less sweet than its orange cousin. Sweet potato muffins Get ahead and bake a batch of sweet potato muffins for lunch in the week – they keep well in the fridge. They also make for a great speedy breakfast or brunch. Discover more sweet potato recipes here. Cauliflower Related to broccoli, a cauliflower’s head (the curd) is actually made up of hundreds of undeveloped flower buds. That collection of buds should be pure white when buying, and held within crisp green leaves, which can also be steamed and eaten, too. Cauliflower ragu Enjoy this great alternative to a meat ragu. Made using cauliflower, it’s cheaper and sneaks in an extra one of your 5-a-day, while the anchovy adds a deep, rich flavour. Find more cauliflower recipes here. Apples British apples are at their best during the later seasons. Go for fruit that’s not bruised and wrinkly, and don’t be fooled by shiny skin – quite a few apples are waxed purely for aesthetic reasons. Invisible apple cake This French cake is so called because the thinly sliced apples meld together in the batter to make the body of the cake and almost disappear. Gingerbread apple butter Spread this gingerbread apple butter on crumpets, stir into a bowl of hot porridge, use on a cheeseboard or as part of a sauce for some juicy pork chops. Check out more apple recipes here. Savoy cabbage Named after a region in France, Savoy cabbage is mild in taste and, due to its large, robust leaves, holds up well when cooking. The leaves are especially good for stuffing. Savoy cabbage thoran Enjoy this simple Savoy cabbage thoran, or cabbage fry, a dry vegetable dish originating from Kerala. The key ingredients are coconut, chilli and spices. Savoy cabbage gratin Chunky wedges of Savoy cabbage are roasted until browned and then baked in a rich cheesy sauce with thyme – the perfect accompaniment to a roast. Find more cabbage recipes here. Chestnuts Although chestnuts start to fall in autumn, their creamy, nutty flavour is synonymous with festive recipes, and their deep mahogany shells makes them easy to store until December. Find them glacéed as treasured sweets, puréed and folded into cream for desserts or simply sold in their shells ready for roasting on the open fire (I serve mine with a little dipping dish of salt ready for dunking once roasted). You can buy them cooked and vacuum packed (great to have on hand) or make a cross in the shells with a sharp knife and roast at 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 20 mins until their shells start to peel back to reveal the softened, creamy yellow flesh inside. Chestnut stuffing with dates and molasses Impress guests over the festive period with our epic stuffing recipe, featuring chestnuts, sausagemeat, sage leaves and sour cherries Brussels sprouts Cultivated in Belgium in the 16th century (hence the name), Brussels sprouts are a relative of cabbage, so share a similar flavour profile of slight mustard, sweet and (some people think) bitter. Often overcooked if boiled, which brings out more of their bitterness, stir-frying or roasting is the best method of cooking. They can also be eaten raw, finely shredded and added to slaws or salads. Marmalade-glazed sprouts with chestnuts Give Christmas sprouts an effortless twist with marmalade, chestnuts and thyme. Frying steamed sprouts in butter lends colour and a velvety shine to your veg. Parsnips These sweet roots are a member of the carrot family. In season from September to March, they’re at their best in the cooler months, which is exactly when you want to eat the warming comfort foods they’re suited to – roasted and served with a Sunday dinner, whizzed into a silky smooth soup or simmered in a slow braise. Their sweetness and robust texture make them great additions to vegetarian mains. Parsnip, sage and apple wellington Our best vegan wellington recipe, stuffed with fried parsnips, mushrooms, lentils, crispy sage and sweet apple. It's the perfect Christmas Day centrepiece. Clementines Little moments of pure sunshine and sweetness which bring brightness to the darker months – clementines are part of a handful of fruits (mostly citrus) that are in season in the winter months due to them being imported from warmer climes. They are a hybrid of an orange and a mandarin, grown for their easy-peel skin and lower acidity over regular oranges. Pile into a bowl for an easy festive table centrepiece, or stud with cloves and allow to scent a room. Panettone and clementine tiramisu Layers of coffee-soaked panettone, candied peel, Cointreau mascarpone and cocoa powder make for a showstopping dessert that's perfect for Christmas Day. Clementine and bream crudo With only a handful of ingredients, minimal prep and no cooking, you'll have an effortless restaurant-style starter in a matter of minutes. Pomegranate Fragrant, sweet pomegranate seeds are encased in a leathery red husk. The fruit grows on trees throughout the Middle East, India and the Mediterranean. Their rich history is tangled in symbolism for fertility and abundance, and their tiny ruby seeds add a pop of colour and crunch to sweet and savoury dishes. Their flavour is sweet, tart and floral, and brings freshness to winter salads, but can also be used as a garnish on lamb dishes, to add a pop of zing to a slaw or mixed with citrus for a festive fruit salad. Rose and pomegranate meringues Ruby-red pomegranate seeds and fragrant rose water are the stars in this festive meringue dessert, served with a sprig of fresh mint and real rose petals. Cranberries Jewels of winter, these crimson fruits are often simmered with sugar to make jam, and served alongside turkey for Christmas. However, these tart gems offer so much more than just a festive condiment. Their sweet-sour nature lends them to refreshing, zingy desserts, such as fools, crumbles and pies. Cranberry tart with cinnamon cream Fill your tart with a Rudolph-red cranberry curd for the ultimate festive dessert this Christmas. Serve with sweet whipped cinnamon cream. Duck Duck has a robust, gamey flavour that holds up to a variety of cooking methods, particularly roasting, which allows the skin to crisp while the meat remains tender and juicy. It pairs well with sweet, sharp accompaniments, such as sherry and shallots, as their sweetness and acidity balance the richness. Classic side dishes such as buttery mashed potatoes, roast potatoes and seasonal greens are ideal partners, creating a comforting and impressive main course for special gatherings. Roast duck with sherried shallots Sweet sherry and meltingly soft shallots pair well with rich, gamey duck in this effortless main for two. Serve with buttery mashed potatoes, or roast potatoes and some greens. Leeks With a subtle onion flavour, leeks add a hint of allium without overpowering a dish. They can also be used in their own right, steamed and buttered or stirred through a rich cheese sauce. Cut down the length of the green part to separate the layers, and fan out under cold running water to remove any grit. The green parts are often discarded or used for stock, but when they’re double cooked and swimming in cheese sauce, they offer a wonderful texture to leek gratin. Swede, leek and smoky bacon boulangerie Top this buttery root veg and streaky bacon boulangère with parmesan breadcrumbs – pure winter comfort. Blinis toppings These blinis are a perfect canapé for festive gatherings, as they’re simple to prepare and versatile. Try topping with sweet charred leeks and whipped ricotta for a vegetarian option. Leek gratin with crispy leek topping Take classic leek sauce to the next level with this gratin, featuring plenty of grated cheddar, golden breadcrumbs and extra-crispy leeks on top. Carrots Carrots are a versatile root vegetable, celebrated for their natural sweetness and vibrant orange hue. Carrots can be enjoyed in a variety of ways: they are delicious when roasted to bring out their caramel notes, steamed or boiled for a softer texture, or eaten raw for a crisp, refreshing bite. They also work well when grated into salads or slaws. Carrots pair beautifully with warming spices such as cumin and coriander, and complement other root vegetables like parsnips and potatoes. Crispy plaice with Thai-style carrot salad Serve strips of crispy seasoned plaice with a vibrant carrot and green bean salad. Finish with mint and coriander for herby freshness. Middle Eastern roast carrot salad with herby carrot top yogurt This recipe uses not only the carrots but also their herby green tops, so nothing is wasted. Serve this easy recipe as an impressive side dish at your next family dinner. Carrot cake loaf Make this carrot cake loaf extra-special with brown butter soft cheese frosting, if you like, or simply leave it off if you’re short on time. Mutton Mutton, taken from sheep over two years old, brings a depth and character you don’t get from younger lamb. At its best in the colder months, it’s made for hearty winter cooking. Slow braises, stews and gentle roasting coax the meat into tenderness while drawing out its full, warming flavour. Slow-cooked fragrant mutton curry This slow-cooked mutton curry is all about deep warmth and tender meat that melts into a fragrant, spiced sauce. Let it simmer gently, then serve with rice or naan for an easy, crowd-pleasing winter feast.
Discover why cream sherry makes such a versatile cocktail ingredient and the best recipes to try, including ideas for fino and manzanilla sherry
Read our guide to the best sherry cocktails, then explore the best sherries to drink this Christmas, the best ports to buy and our collection of 64 Christmas cocktails. What is cream sherry? Cream sherry is a style of sweet sherry that's usually made by blending a dry wine, like oloroso, with sweet wines like pedro ximénez. It was once hugely popular (especially Harveys Bristol Cream, which in its early 1970s heyday sold a million cases a year in the UK) but this has waned thanks to the mass production of sickly-sweet, low-quality sherries and, more recently, the changing tastes of drinkers as they seek out dry styles like fino and manzanilla. This is rather a shame because a good cream sherry from a quality producer is a lovely thing: sweet but not cloying and full of the beautiful festive flavours of dried fruit, caramel and nuts that make it a perfect match for desserts and cheeseboards (try it with blue cheese). While it’s delicious sipped neat (always drink it chilled – on the rocks with an orange slice is particularly good), the complexity of flavours in a good cream sherry make it a surprisingly versatile cocktail ingredient. Plus it lasts for ages in the fridge once opened – for weeks and even up to months. Sherry cocktail recipes Cream sherry cocktails Sherry flip Velvety and nutty, this sherry flip makes an excellent alternative to eggnog during the festive season. Sherry highball Inspired by the sherry colada at New York bar Sip & Guzzle, this drink mixes cream sherry with pineapple soda for a fresh, tropical, highly gluggable highball. Sherry whisky sour A Christmassy spin on a classic whisky cocktail, the cream sherry adds extra festive flavours to the drink. Manzanilla sherry cocktails Seabreeze cocktail You'll need cranberry vodka, two types of sherry and grapefruit juice for this zesty, tart cocktail, from Manzi's seafood restaurant in Soho. Olive martini Add a touch of sophistication to your next martini with guindilla pepper brine and manzanilla sherry. Don't forget the green olive to garnish. Fino sherry cocktails Rebujito The rebujito, popular in Andalusia, is just the ticket for warm-weather drinking: a highball cocktail where dry fino sherry is mixed with lemonade for a tall, thirst-quenching drink. Tuxedo This sleek and elegant cocktail is very similar to a martini, but instead of vermouth uses dry fino sherry for an appetisingly nutty edge.
13 winter sun destinations for food lovers
Dream of warmer climates with our pick of the best places for food lovers to get a fix of winter sunshine, from sun-fuelled wellness retreats to outdoorsy city breaks and lush jungle escapes
Looking for the ultimate winter sun destinations for food lovers? Want to make the most of the sunshine on an alfresco city break? Check out our pick of places to go, including where to stay, which restaurants to visit and what dishes you should try. For something a little chillier, check out our picks of the best ski destinations in Europe for a snowy getaway. Winter sun destinations for food lovers Bali – for an eco-chic escape Bali isn't all about parties and gap year travellers. If you need some relaxation after December madness, head to Bali for a calm wellbeing break. Soak up the warmth by relaxing on the beaches, go for a swim in the Indian Ocean and immerse yourself in Indonesian culture exploring the bustling cities. The unbeatable sunsets will stay with you long after you go home. Base yourself in Seminyak – a blend of luxury that still feels laid-back, with buzzy beach clubs, wide beaches and endless beachside cafés to while away the days at. Where to stay: Stay at Potato Head, an eco-chic retreat on Seminyak’s beachfront. Sustainability is at the forefront of this brutalist structure: ceilings are made of recycled Sprite bottles, earthy tones warm up the expansive space and rattan furniture adds local character. Book the Oceanfront Studio to wake up to daylight pouring in and stunning sea views. To enjoy golden hour as the sun sets, a wood-panelled bath takes centre stage, which can be drawn with floating petals, and fresh dragon fruit and watermelon platters on the side. The room is complete with a custom-made maxi-bar, stocked with the likes of spiced rum and pink guava kombucha. On-site dining options have been curated to meet every need, with seasonal produce grown on the organic regenerative farm, Sweet Potato Project. Kaum serves authentic Indonesian dishes such as gado gado, a vegetable salad with peanut dressing, in a casual, plant-filled setting. At Ijen, seafood fresh from the boat is cooked on open fire – think grilled octopus, whole roasted barramundi and clams in seaweed butter. Contemporary plant-based versions of classics such as báhn mì, crispy oyster mushroom katsu and warming pandang curry are given the spotlight at Tanaman. The zero-waste cocktail lab designs options for each restaurant, salvaging surplus ingredients otherwise destined for the bin to turn into the likes of avocado stone syrup, showcased in cocktails such as the rum-based Barong Zombie. Doubles from £157, check rates and availability at booking.com Belize – for eco-friendly adventure Head to Belize for an adventure along with your sunshine – think kayaking down the Rio Grande River, hiking the national parks or scuba diving in the Belize barrier reef. Explore ancient Mayan ruins for a culture fix, or learn about local coffee or chocolate production with guided tours and tastings. There is something to do for everybody – perfect for those who can't sit still, or for a family trip with an experience for all ages. Where to stay: Copal Tree Lodge is a luxurious eco-resort set between the Rio Grande river and lush jungle. Four Signature Canopy Suites are accessed by a tiny tram that takes you to the top of the jungle canopy. Choose rooms 13 or 16 for sunrise views, and 14 or 15 to watch the sunset from your king-sized bed, veranda hammock or outdoor balcony bathtub. Whichever you go for, the views are out of this world. You also get shared use of the infinity pool and a private bar with bartender Ducky to shake up whatever you fancy. Most of the food you’ll eat at Copal Tree Lodge is grown on site. As well as growing and drying its own coffee and chocolate, the estate also makes its own rum, Copalli, from the sugar cane harvested in the surrounding fields. Try the organic cacao rum for its rich chocolate flavour and smooth finish. The Garden Table Restaurant serves dishes from the kitchen garden, cooked in traditional Belizean styles such as Creole, Latin and Garifuna. Lunches combine fresh produce in sandwiches, salads and tacos with spicy pico de gallo, handmade tortillas and homemade queso fresco. Belizean breakfasts are some of the best in the world, combining Central American favourites like huevos rancheros or burritos with a plethora of sweet, fresh tropical fruits and juices, and US-style breakfasts like pancake stacks (served with pineapple butter – a must-try) and thick coconut and cinnamon french toast. Fry jacks, puffed-up fried tortillas, are a speciality of the region. Copal Lodge’s version comes stuffed with farm-fresh scrambled eggs, refried beans and garden veggies. Suites from £450, check rates and availability at booking.com The Caribbean – for beachside seafood suppers The tropical climate of the Caribbean makes this cluster of islands with white sand beaches a go-to destination for winter sun. Friday night fish fries are where locals and tourists come together to drink rum, hang out, play dominos and eat fresh fish to a backdrop of live music in the open air. Fresh fish such as mahi-mahi, tuna and swordfish are cooked in front of you over flames. In the Bahamas, Nassau’s colourful Arawak Cay harbour hosts a fish fry every night. Taste unique dishes that vary between each of the 700 islands of the Bahamas, such as conch salads and fritters, guava duffs and ‘cracked’ battered fish washed down with sky juice or local beers. In Tobago, get your seafood fix from the Store Bay Ladies, who have been selling their homemade crab and dumplings at the idyllic turquoise bay of the same name for decades. Head to Miss Trim’s – set up by 86-year-old Miss Trim, who recently passed the business on to her eighth child, Meisha – to enjoy blue-black crab in a blend of coconut milk and spices. Other iconic spots for curried crab include Scarborough’s Blue Crab, run by charming 80-year-old Alison and her husband Kenneth. Further up the north coast lies Castara, a small Caribbean beach town with a laid-back local culture. Where to stay: On Tobago’s north coast lies Castara, a friendly beach village with a laid-back culture. Born-and-bred locals Derek (aka Porridge) and Jeanelle Lopez welcome guests to their small eco boutique, Castara Retreats. The collection of treehouse lodges nestled into lush hillside rainforest are designed to soak up breathtaking views of the sun setting over the Caribbean Sea. Sun spills through intricately carved window frames into minimally decorated cedarwood suites, brightened with colour pops from handwoven fabrics on four-poster beds, local contemporary art and the flutter of resident hummingbirds. At open-air multi-level restaurant Caribbean Kitchen, you can sip on passion fruit mojito sundowners before trying the island’s fresh ingredients in dishes such as grilled red snapper with homemade salsa, lamb curry with coconut greens, and black bean and plantain fritters. Guests are also encouraged to mooch down to the village and join the community in daily food rituals. Mornings at local meeting hub Cheno’s Coffee Shop start with breakfasts of coconut bake, salt fish and tropical star fruit salads. Marguarite’s, set back from the beach, serves its own take on curried crab and dumplings, and the handful of beach bars regularly host live steelpan, soca and calypso music for barefoot dancing on the shore in the moonlight. Join a sea-breeze-fuelled yoga class in the retreat’s open-sided studio, spend the day unwinding on secluded golden sand beaches and hike through rainforest paths to the oldest protected waterfall in the Western Hemisphere. Apartments from £141 per night, check availability at booking.com or castararetreats.com Sri Lanka – for a tropical, sun-fuelled reset Start the new year with a mood-boosting holiday to return nourished, rested and rejuvenated for the months ahead. Sri Lanka’s south coast boasts plenty of sunshine in the winter months, without much rain. Tropical fruits such as electrolyte-rich coconuts, pineapples and papaya are in abundance all year round, as are vibrant vegetarian curries that include plenty of turmeric and nourishing veg. Where to stay: One of Sri Lanka’s luxury stars, Malabar Hill is located on an old cinnamon plantation just outside Weligama on the south coast. From its hilltop perch, the palatial-like hotel has expansive views looking back towards the Indian Ocean and further out to lush green paddy fields. The secluded villas, nestled in the jungle, are designed to make the most of the scenery, each boasting floor-to-ceiling glass windows, terraces and salt-water infinity pools. Antique Rajasthani chests, mirrors and bedframes contrast contemporary brushed concrete walls to create luxurious cocoons for ultimate relaxation. Intricately carved arches give way to breathtaking viewpoints from open-air Hill House restaurant and bar in the ornate main building. A wide-ranging menu of excellent Sri Lankan, Indian and Southeast Asian dishes use the freshest ingredients from the market and surrounding waters. Options include sticky aubergine salad, crispy skin barramundi and prawn curry with kachumber salad, while the seafood platter of lobster, squid, prawns and fish is a real treat. Pre-order the traditional Sri Lankan lamprais – a selection of curries, fricadelle meatballs, ash plantain, shrimp paste, tangy aubergine moju, and rice wrapped and steamed in a banana leaf. The intricately prepared Sri Lankan breakfast begins with freshly cooked hoppers or coconut roti to pair with dhal curry and katta, seeni and coconut sambols, plus a choice of watermelon, papaya, pineapple or king coconut juices. Tailor-made excursions include water safaris, restaurant and café hopping in Galle Fort, and guided tours of the original cinnamon estate just across the valley. Villas from £386 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or malabarhillsrilanka.com Mendoza, Argentina – for vineyard experiences in the sunshine Mendoza valley, high up in the Andes, is Argentina's number one and biggest wine region. The vineyards in this area are known to be home to some of the highest altitude vines in the world, with Malbec being the most prevalent grape. During February and March's Fiesta de la Vendimia harvest festival, Mendoza city and its surrounding villages and vineyards come alive with colourful parades, food markets and open air concerts to celebrate the graft of workers in this stunning region of Argentina. Wineries open up for tours and tastings, there are unique pairing menus in restaurants, and tourists can join in grape picking and stomping in the vineyards. Where to stay: Set in the foothills of the Andes, this sustainable-forward, 320-hectare estate embraces the outdoors with its minimalist design, natural reserves and outdoor activities. The contemporary hotel building is designed to reflect the surrounding landscapes – floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive terraces in the upper-floor rooms, cubist stand-alone suite structures set around the Andean water-filled lagoon and outdoor pools for taking in the mountain air. Small touches of hospitality make Casa de Uco feel like home, from a glass of the estate’s wine and homemade alfajores to enjoy on arrival to bespoke cocktails tweaked to your tastes from the list curated by renowned Buenos Aires bartender Renato Giovannoni. An expansive organic kitchen garden provides bountiful produce for chefs to showcase the best of the Uco Valley and its terroir. Vibrant salads are a riot of textures – think pickled beets, pears, roquefort and fried walnuts. Argentinian beef classics are given contemporary flair – carpaccio in chermoula sauce, empanadas with chilli sauce and tomahawk steak with gratin onions. The Uco Valley is a key part of Mendoza’s wine region and experiences among the 70 hectares of vines range from interactive tours and tastings to immersive wine-making workshops. You can even join the harvest, partake in grape stomping and reward yourself with vinotherapy treatments in the sleek spa. The estate is a playground to soak up the winter sun – cycle or ride horseback through the vines to secluded fireside dinners, tuck into a lavish picnic on a ‘wild deck’ in the on-site natural reserve or join chefs as they pluck ingredients from the kitchen garden and teach you asado skills as the sky turns pink and orange behind the mountains. Doubles from £502 per night, check availability at booking.com, mrandmrssmith.com or casadeuco.com Zambia and Zimbabwe – for a luxury safari If you've ever wanted to go on safari, now is the time. Thoughtful, responsible and deeply moving, the remote Wilderness reserves in Zambia and Zimbabwe offer a rare kind of travel, one that reconnects you with nature and reminds you how extraordinary the world can be. Set along riverbanks and deep within vast national parks, these camps offer a front-row seat to Africa’s raw, unfiltered beauty. Each is built sensitively around its environment to allow wildlife to roam freely and the landscape to remain untouched. The guiding here is world-class and truly tailored to each guest. The ability to read and interpret the bush transforms every sighting into a profoundly intimate experience, the kind that stays imprinted long after you return home – think watching a leopard slink silently through the shadows, stalking a porcupine. Days begin and end with river cruises or game drives timed for when the animals are at their most active and the sunsets impossibly vivid. In the golden calm of the afternoon the tempo slows – you can enjoy a dip in the pool, a massage at the spa, or a lingering lunch accompanied by the sound of cicadas and distant bird calls. Sustainability also runs through everything Wilderness does – solar-powered camps, eco-friendly toiletries and locally sourced ingredients all supporting conservation and nearby communities. Where to stay: As well as getting you up close and personal to the animals, the Wilderness reserves offer a touch of luxury throughout your stay. Wilderness Toka Leya’s open-sided river suites with swinging chairs and outdoor bathtubs allow you to soak up the hippos’ nightly chorus from the mighty Zambezi below. Wilderness Linkwasha’s pale woods and glass walls create a modern aesthetic overlooking the watering hole where giraffes stoop to drink as you sip your morning coffee. Wilderness Ruckomechi’s lantern-lit decks and elephants wandering through camp feel timelessly explorer-chic. Many suites also feature outdoor beds – perfectly safe yet open to the night sky – where you fall asleep beneath the Milky Way and wake to the sound of laughing hyenas greeting the dawn. Dining is integral to the experience and service is warm and intuitive, every detail considered. Meals celebrate the bold, earthy flavours of southern Africa – flame-grilled bream from the Zambezi, slow-cooked game stews, and vegetables grown in camp gardens. Mornings start with a light breakfast of fresh fruit, wood-fired breads and eggs cooked to order before your first adventure. Evenings are pure theatre – gin and tonics around the campfire as the sun sinks below the horizon, followed by candlelit dinners beneath a vast star-studded sky. Food and drink preferences are gathered before your trip, and guests are encouraged to treat each camp as a home from home, including mixing a drink from the bar at any time of day or night. Check out Wilderness Destinations for destinations, rates and availability. Florida – for rooftop sunbathing and al fresco dining Make the most of the Sunshine State's abundance of warm weather with alfresco eating and outdoorsy adventures. Choose an eclectic city break in Miami, that boasts everything from sandy beaches and swish cocktail bars to an artsy independent craft beer and restaurant scene amongst the colourful murals in Wynwood. Or stay in the heart of Little Havana to soak up the area's Cuban culture with morning cafecitos, El Sanguich's pork-stuffed toasted sandwiches and late-night cocktails at iconic bar Café La Trova. Down in the Florida Keys, take in ocean views and breathtaking sunsets over seafood suppers on the vast deck of Key West institution, Louie’s Backyard. The town's picture-perfect, porch-fronted clapboard houses host plenty of restaurants with dining decks; tuck into key lime pie and Caribbean dishes in Blue Heaven’s vibrant backyard complete with live music and chickens mooching around. Where to stay: If you're looking for a sunbathing bolthole in Miami, try Arlo Wynwood, complete with a mural-clad staircase leading to a funky tropical cocktail bar and terrace. The rooftop pool is the place to relax for classic Miami vibes; wiggle along to tunes on your sun lounger and sip refreshing mezcal cocktails or tuck into tuna poke bowls beneath candy-striped parasols. The ground floor restaurant is a collaboration with some of Miami’s best-known names, including chef Brad Kilgore and Broken Shaker’s Elad Zvi and Gabriel Orta. Doubles from £329, check availability at booking.com Jordan – for street food and desert feasts beneath the stars In the centre of the Levant, Jordan looks out across the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean and all of these influences can be seen in the country’s food. The way to a country’s heart is through its stomach. At least, that’s the conclusion drawn by solo-friendly tour operator Intrepid. On Intrepid's six-day Jordan Real Food Adventure a local guide invites a small group to experience the country's cuisine. Sit outside a local falafel restaurant and soak up the late night bustle of an Arabic city. Amman really comes alive after dark, when the heat has dissipated and people are free to do their shopping, catch up on local gossip or, among the younger generation, congregate with friends to drink mint tea and share a shisha. As dinners go, sharing slow-cooked goat with Bedouin tribesmen under a star-filled sky in the Wadi Rum desert is unmissable. Guide Mohammed and his brothers cook a traditional ‘zarb’, an ancient method of cooking where they bury meat, vegetables and rice in a pit in the ground, add lots of embers, wrap it in blankets and bury it in sand. Other experiences include drinking sheep’s milk with local shepherds, preparing lamb mansaf with a family at Petra (before visiting the site itself) and whipping up your own dinner at Amman’s most innovative cookery school. Where to stay: Intrepid's six-day Real Food Adventure includes accommodation in bedouin tents, boutique hotels and homestays. Check rates and availability at intrepidtravel.com Cape Town – for an al fresco city break UK winter is summer in South Africa, and that means platters of crayfish and local oysters, and glasses of local chenin blanc enjoyed by the water’s edge. At the V&A Waterfront, a shopping and dining complex, settle in for a magnificent view of the harbour and the mountain at waterside Harbour House and take your pick from a fine selection of seasonal seafood caught by the restaurant’s own trawler; in late December it’s all about crayfish. Fish and chips is a must in Cape Town. Take yours up a gear by ordering snoek, a large-boned member of the barracuda family. Eat it outdoors with the locals at no-fuss Fish on the Rocks in Hout Bay. Fish comes served with slap chips doused in vinegar and you’ll find the 25-minute drive from the city centre worth every bite. Book a historical walk in colourful Bo-kaap, an iconic area renowned for its commanding views over the city and its tight-knit, traditional Cape Malay community. The city’s numerous parks and Kirstenbosch National Botanical gardens are perfect for picnicking. For platters of the best Western Cape produce – think goat’s milk labneh, cumin-studded boerenkaas, chorizo, homemade pâtés, pickled South African peppadew peppers and spreads – head to Saucisse for supplies. The Saturday Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill in Woodstock is a great place to pick up artisanal staples and vegetables if you’re self-catering (or food souvenir hunting). Many shoppers stay on for a street food brunch from one of its stalls, from steak sandwiches at Kitchen Cowboys to cultivated Saldanha Bay oysters from Mother Shuckers. Where to stay: Boutique b&b Welgelegen is in prime position to mooch along trendy Kloof Street, that's bursting with coffee shops, restaurants and bars including quirky Kloof Street House. For a striking luxurious option, The Silo offers showstopping views from it's lofty spot occupying six-floors above the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa, plus a rooftop terrace and pool. Doubles at The Silo from £848 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2024/01/GettyImages-1405859548-4dbe083.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="Cape Town South Africa, Table Mountain and tourists eat and drink under umbrellas on the waterfront" title="Cape Town South Africa, Table Mountain and tourists eat and drink under umbrellas on the waterfront. Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images" /> Athens – for a sunny European city break During the winter months, Greece’s capital city offers plenty of blue sky days and mild temperatures. The lack of crowds means the Acropolis, and other ancient sites usually crammed with tourists, can be visited at a much more leisurely pace. Back down the hill in the city centre, walk through the cobbled streets with one of the many street food options – hearty gyros, crisp spanakopita and sweet, syrupy loukoumades. Grab a coffee to go from Samba Coffee Roasters and climb up Lycabettus Hill for magical orange-hued sunsets over the Acropolis, mountains and Aegean Sea. Duck into one of the city’s many tavernas (we loved no-menu cellar Diporto, deli-restaurant Karamanlidika and old-school fish spot Ouzeri Lesvos) for traditional Greek dishes such as homemade moussaka, fresh Greek salads and rice-stuffed vegetables, known as ‘gemista’. Where to stay: Book a stay at Monument, an elegantly restored neoclassical-style mansion in the heart of the vibrant Psyri neighbourhood near the Acropolis. Once you step foot into this compact boutique, the city buzz immediately subsides and guests are enveloped in quiet but warm hospitality. Each of the nine rooms and suites are unique, intertwining meticulously restored original features – intricate stucco ceilings, mottled limewashed walls, Persian carpets – with contemporary bronze accents. Epos boasts a private marble balcony overlooking an orange tree lined church yard and a view of the Acropolis in the distance, while Nidus has its own terrace complete with hot tub with dazzling views of the city’s iconic monuments. In the elegant reception room, the breakfast table groans with Greek cheese pastries, cured meats and dried figs along with dinky jars of local honey and homemade jams. Made-to-order dishes include Greek classics such as strapatsada scrambled eggs flecked with crumbly feta and tomatoes. Bookings include a daily hour of private relaxation in the serene, candlelit basement wellness area, where Greek sweets and a pot of green tea await to enjoy between rotations in the wood sauna, marble hammam and cold power showers. Suites from £227, check rates and availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Mexico – for winter wellness Discover Mexico during the UK's winter months to make the most of sandy beaches, warm turquoise seas and vibrant cenotes. Graze a smorgasbord of street food in Mexico City; try chilli-chocolate mole poblano and pizza-like tlayudas in Oaxaca (Mexico’s culinary capital) and eat fresh-fish ceviche on the Yucatán. Carnival, Semana Santa and various feast days fall in UK winter season, so there are plenty of opportunities for food-fuelled festivities and social gatherings. Tacos are a way of life, and there’s nowhere this is more true than in Mexico City, where you can enjoy a variety for breakfast, lunch, dinner and at any time between. Where to stay: Boca de Agua is a luxury jungle retreat set back from the Yucatán Peninsula’s Lagoon of Seven Colours, close to Mexico’s Belize border. Twenty-two treehouse suites, each with private plunge pools and hammocks strung across shaded decks, are nestled within the forest of mango, banana and kapok trees (believed to be sacred in Mayan culture), from which toucans, woodpeckers and spider monkeys provide a tropical soundtrack. Five-star luxuries are catered to – natural Laguna Cyprien toiletries to use in turquoise tiled outdoor rain showers, king-size beds and dark tropical wood cabinets made from recycled materials. Chef Sergio cooks local specialities over fire in the open kitchen. Lunch options include flame-grilled steak tacos, plump prawn aguachile and black fish, mango and achiote ceviche – best paired with refreshing Mexican lagers, Cayaco, Victoria and Modelo. Come evening try charcoaled empanadas with chimichurri, a selection of steak cuts with tomato and fresh berry salad, and crisp seabass on a bed of sautéed Yucatan squash, garden herbs and red salsa. Mexican wines include floral orange from Valle de Parras, or drinks specialist Leandro can guide you through a mezcal tasting. The breakfast menu is split into Mexican and Yucatán specialities. In the latter, you can find huevos rancheros alongside cochinita pibil and lechón tacos, both made with smoky suckling pig cooked underground for 24 hours. Pad down the walkway through the mangroves to the uniquely turquoise waters of Bacalar Lagoon. Take a dip, hop on a kayak to spot the stromatolite fossils and relax on the deck with a mezcal margarita, guacamole and toasted tortilla chips. Suites from £281, check rates and availability at mrandmrssmith.com and booking.com Tasmania – for waterfront festivities The seasons are switched down under, so December and January celebrates Tasmania's “Taste of Summer” festival. It takes place on the waterfront in the dynamic capital of Hobart from 27 December to 6 January. Try the island’s abundance of oysters and celebrate the diverse cuisines available, from Vietnamese banh mi to Indonesian stuffed breads and Mexican street food. Tasmanian boutique vineyards will hold tastings alongside craft breweries, cider makers and whisky distilleries. While you’re in town, hop around Hobart’s wine bars to try glasses of locally-grown riesling, chardonnay and cool-climate pinot noir, accompanied by Tasmanian cheeses. Follow the River Derwent up to The Agrarian Kitchen for a seasonal lunch or to take part in a field-to-fork cookery class. If you're staying for longer, take yourself on a self-guided tour through northern Tasmania’s Tasting Trail, strung together with artisan producers. Pick your own berries at The Berry Patch, tuck into hot smoked salmon from 41 Degrees South’s inland salmon ponds and treasure black truffles grown in the volcanic soil. Where to stay: The glamorous design hotel MACq 01 on Hobart’s harbour has architectural pizzazz and an imaginative concept: each of the 114 rooms is named after an extraordinary character in Tasmania’s colourful history and guests can join complimentary door-to-door storytelling tours. Doubles from £152, check rates and availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Zanzibar – for ultimate relaxation Head to Zanibar for winter sun. Stone Town (the pretty old town area of the island’s capital, Zanzibar City) is worth exploring before you begin some holiday relaxation. Pop to Puzzle Coffee Shop for cold-brew coffees made with Tanzanian beans and Lukmaan restaurant for freshly grilled kingfish with a side of banana. 1001 Organic is a must-visit, a social enterprise working with 26 small-scale farmers in the forests of Pemba (the second largest island in the Zanzibar Archipelago) who then sell the spices in their small shop. Smell and taste before you buy, from sweet cinnamon, ginger-infused salt and floral black pepper. Where to stay: Swim laps of the infinity pool, sip ginger lassis on the private beach and soak up calm vibes in the spice garden at Zuri, a luxury Zanzibar resort two hours from the capital. Zuri is a tranquil 55-bedroom beachside resort with a sustainable ethos and stylish design. Guest rooms – suites, bungalows and villas – are scattered between cottages in a series of spice ‘villages’ dotted around the leafy 32-acre resort and connected by a network of pebbled paths. As you wind your way between cottage and beach you’ll find little alcoves to relax in, shaded by baobab trees and with just the swish of palm trees for company. A private sandy beach, strung with hammocks, is licked by the emerald waves of the Indian Ocean. Or, if you’d rather get active, do laps of the infinity pool, or push-ups at the outdoor jungle gym. Whether you’re in a bungalow, suite or villa you’re guaranteed luxury. An indoor-outdoor approach gives a real sense of outdoor living with private plant-shaded terraces and open-air showers. When it’s time to sleep, however, modern luxuries come into play. Not least the Evening Breeze system built into each bed, offering cold, cool and fresh temperatures that you can control with a remote. Choose from three restaurants dotted around the resort, from beach bar Bahari to the main restaurant Ubudo. At breakfast, help yourself to bowls brimming with fresh-from-the-tree mango and passion fruit, or the dozen or so homemade varieties, made with local fruits, on the jam station (try tangy pineapple on slices of Madeira cake or sweet, sticky date on squidgy banana bread). Bungalows from £760 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com More travel guides 10 unique walking holidays for foodies 8 of the most breathtaking train journeys across the world Swap popular tourist spots for these lesser known destinations Images: Getty, Bob Thomas/Popperfoto via Getty Images, Hiran Thabrew, Peter Titmuss/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, Fitopardo via Getty Images, MACq 01 hotel, Kirillm via Getty Images, Atlantide Phototravel via Getty Images Words: Alex Crossley, Tracey Raye, Meliz Burg, Lucy Gillmore
Best restaurants in Tbilisi: where locals eat in the vibrant Georgian capital
Explore this energetic crossroads city via soup dumplings, supra-style sharing feasts and unique wines made using ancient techniques
Looking for restaurants in Tbilisi? Want to know where to eat and drink in the Georgian capital? Restaurateur Giorgi Mindiashvili showed me his favourite spots in his hometown, and shares a deep-dive into Georgian cuisine here. Where to eat and drink in Tbilisi, Georgia Shavi Lomi – for sharing-style suppers Named after Niko Pirosmani’s Black Lion painting, this stunning tree-lined courtyard and cosy converted house is popular with artsy locals. Centre stage is the gobi, a thali-style wooden sharing bowl filled with multicoloured pkhali dips, fresh cheeses and breads. Next comes the likes of stuffed lobiani, whole grilled aubergines doused in walnut and pomegranate sauce, Georgian lamb risotto and beef dolma with minted yogurt. Plus, layered honey cake for dessert. instagram.com/shavilomi_tbilisicuisine/ Craft – for cosy bistro feels A concept store turned bistro and wine bar with a warm, homely feel, showcasing ceramics from Georgian artisans on its blush pink walls. Alongside rotating wines from small-batch producers (Artana, Ethno, Kiketi Farm), authentic flavours and regional dishes are given a contemporary lift. Think pan-fried butter mushrooms in bazhe (spiced walnut sauce), fresh from the oven lavash flatbreads and marinated aubergine from the charcoal makali grill served with spiced green chilli ajika and red pepper pkhali. craftwinerestaurant.com Saperavi – for wine ice cream Look out for kiosks selling unique, purple-hued wine ice cream, including this pretty wooden domed kiosk perched above the river by the Second Bridge of Love. Order a cone piled high with wine soft serve and a glass of fresh pomegranate juice before heading to the atmospheric Orbeliani Baths for a rejuvenating sulfur soak and scrub. 8 Abano Turn Oro – for western Megrelian dishes Set in a former printing house with elegant interiors and a leafy courtyard, Oro is an ode to Georgia’s historic western Megrelian region, with a little spicier cuisine and unique preparation techniques – for example, its pizza-style khachapuri served with bubbling cheese on top. Try regional sharing feasts of elarji (pulled sulguni cheese melted into cornmeal ghomi), adjika-roasted corn on the cob, herb-flecked kharcho stew, roast shkmeruli chicken in a creamy garlic sauce and cottage cheese dumplings served with fig jam and soured cream. The wine list has a section dedicated to qvevri wines using ancient techniques from Tegani, Nareklishvili and Kviriashvili vineyards. orotbilisi.ge Caravanserai Bakery – for Georgian bakes Housed in a vaulted cellar hidden beneath Tbilisi's old town, this traditional Georgian bakery offers all kinds of baked goods, most notably khachapuri cheese breads. Female bakers in traditional aprons are on hand to guide tastings through the repertoire of curd cheese-filled imeruli, meat-filled kubdari and megruli with extra bubbling cheese on top. 13/40 Sioni St Kakhelebi – for farm-to-table Kakhetian cuisine On the outskirts of Tbilisi lies this popular roadside restaurant, where locals flock for long lunches. Most of the produce used in the sharing dishes is grown on the restaurant's own farm in the rich, fertile Kakheti region. Salads come jewelled with pomegranates and walnuts and platters of delicate khinkali were the freshest I tried in the city. Slow-cooked tomato and herb goat stew and juices from an assortment of shish-style mtsvadi skewers (goat, lamb, pork) can be mopped up with grilled flatbread pockets. The owners even make their own wine following the traditional qvevri method, while surplus grapes are used to make pelamushi pudding. instagram.com/kakhelebi/ Keto & Kote – for special occasions Offering sweeping views of the city from its expansive terrace, this beguiling 19th-century mansion is nestled into the trees in Tbilisi's Vera district. Inside, chandeliers, handwoven tapestries and murals add splashes of colour to the building's wooden floorboards, shutters and intricate cornicing. Contemporary takes on Georgian classics include red bean-filled lobiani, megrelian cheese pie, chikhirtma herby chicken broth and plenty of fresh zingy salads. A dessert table is laid with the likes of meringue pie, walnut honey cake and the signature cherry tart. instagram.com/ketoandkote/ Saamuri – for natural wine This natural wine bar and shop is a lesson in industrial chic, housed in a former sewing factory as part of urban space Fabrika. Its shiny walls are left bare save for contemporary wooden shelves from which a curation of natural Georgian wines shine. Sit at the tiled window counter to watch the world go by before hopping across the way to Popolo for thin-crust pizza if you've had too many dumplings. fabrikatbilisi.com Where to stay in Tbilisi – Stamba Stamba’s former life as a 1950s publishing house is embraced from the moment you enter – a functional printing press runs along the ceiling of the brutalist-style lobby, through which trees grow alongside concrete pillars. A mustard-hued wood oven for baking kachapuri takes centre stage in the main all-day Georgian European fusion brasserie, with the kitsch Pink Bar offshoot serving signature cocktails and a coffee and chocolate roastery for soothing treats. The building sprawls out in all directions, with original floor-to-ceiling windows opening into concrete jungle courtyards, co-working spaces and a dedicated wine bar and shop, Warehouse, where an ex-Noma sommelier guides guests through tastings from Georgia’s finest vineyards. Spacious rooms interweave industrial features with contemporary Georgian artwork, bold furnishings and mini libraries. Plush amenities include brass and copper bathtubs, state of the art coffee machines and regional spirits, and recipes to craft your own cocktails. stambahotel.com
From slinky, speakeasy-style dens to cutting-edge mixology, London's cocktail bars are world-class. Here's a taste of what to expect
Looking for the best cocktail bars in London? As olive’s drinks writer, I've spent the past eight years scouring the capital’s bar scene to keep up with the latest trends, openings and hot spots. London’s bar scene is one of the best in the world (including four of the World’s 50 Best Bars; see the full list here), buzzing with cutting-edge mixology, top-tier bartender talent and, most importantly, really delicious cocktails. Here’s my pick of the best at the moment – from a Latin American-inspired basement bar in Notting Hill to a Dalston agaveria and award-winning cocktail lounge in Soho. There's plenty to keep your Friday nights and weekends busy; make sure you check back for more as I'll be updating this guide with the best new cocktail bar openings. For more like this, check out the World's 50 Best Bars, the best London hotel bars to visit, the best listening bars in London and the best London pubs for food lovers. Also check out our London food guides, including the best restaurants in Fitzrovia, best restaurants in Shoreditch, best restaurants in Marylebone and best restaurants in Notting Hill. Best London cocktail bars The Black Duke, Vauxhall The Vauxhall roundabout was an unlikely dining destination until Jackson and Frank Boxer launched their much-praised Brunswick House in the surrounds of a Grade II listed Georgian mansion in 2010, and thanks to a restoration of the building’s 18th-century cellars they’ve now launched The Black Duke, making two good reasons why you need to visit. Inside, dripping candles add flickering cosiness to the carefully revived space, which includes 300-year-old fireplaces and chimneys restored to working order. Exposed brickwork, vintage tables and leather seating complete a pared-back yet inviting setting. The drinks list is pleasingly short and to the point – start with a one-sip negroni before moving on to crowd-pleasing cocktails with a twist; alpine herbal liqueur génépi adds herbal complexity to the house martini, while an excellent bergamot margarita highlights the floral charms of this citrus fruit. Elsewhere, non-alcoholic drinks included superior no/low brands like Botivo, and you can get £5 glasses of the house champagne, Pol Roger, between 6-8pm. Elevated snacks include devilled eggs, generous cheese, pickle and charcuterie plates, and a must-order grilled potato bread with green garlic butter. brunswickhouse.london Little Bat, Islington Neighbourhood bar is a descriptor that can be used too liberally when it comes to London drinking spots but it’s perfect for Little Bat. Sister bar to Callooh Callay in Shoreditch, it’s casual and fuss-free yet stylish, with refreshingly affordable cocktails. Dark, sultry and dimly lit, it’s a great choice for low-key birthday drinks with friends or perhaps one last drink on a night out. A refreshed cocktail list has plenty to enjoy. Flutter By is a light, pretty agave cocktail with Codigo Rosa tequila complemented by floral, fruity notes from strawberry aperitif and elderflower liqueur. Little Bat also nails the classics: we tried a warming, spicy boulevardier (the negroni’s winter cousin) with Fielden rye whisky, and there’s also a pithy roster of ‘Cold AF’ martinis. Our vesper did not disappoint, crystalline, boozy and icy cold. There’s also a revamped food menu courtesy of chef-consultant James Cochran – those looking for bar snacks can try the likes of toasted sourdough bread with whipped gravy butter, seriously addictive buttermilk fried chicken with jerk spiced hot honey glaze, and beer-battered Whitstable oysters. Or turn it into a proper dinner and add mains such as jerk spiced slow-braised shoulder of mangalitza pork or torched Cornish mackerel with hazelnut tahini, finished off with aged Berkswell basque cheesecake for dessert. littlebatbar.com Chiave, Shoreditch Chiave, meaning ‘key’ in Italian, cuts a subtle exterior on Shoreditch’s Redchurch Street bar the large, polished brass-effect key on the door. Naturally lit during the day from the sash windows, stay until sundown for the bar to transform into an intimate drinking den with dark mahogany tables and palo santo incense swirling up towards the enchanting red ceiling. Nine signature cocktails are the crowning glory, each of which is called after a song. Street Spirit (named after Radiohead’s 1995 track) is a vibrant twist on a Moscow mule with aniseed notes from raki – Turkey’s national spirit – effortlessly blended with a subtle salted caramel vodka. For crisp and aromatic herbal refreshment don’t miss Sunbeams with Tanqueray No Ten gin, chinotto nero and a blend of clarified sea buckthorn and basil. Margarita fans will not be disappointed with a Tommy margarita mixing equal quantities of Ojo de Dios mezcal and Don Julio tequila, with chilli liqueur and a spicy sumac rim. The team’s Turkish heritage is reflected in the small but thoughtful snack selection. Nibble on elegant, rice-stuffed vine leaves with pomegranate molasses for dipping, or hummus-filled cucumber bites. If you want to carry on the night, head downstairs to the small but compact dance floor with custom-made speakers and a classy HiFi mixer. chiaveshoreditch.com Mad Cats, Shoreditch Another listening bar has landed in Shoreditch – and this one is more than worth a visit. With a compact cocktail selection that chooses quality over quantity, Asian-inspired flavours sing with Muyu Jasmine Verte Liqueur, junmai sake and lemongrass, while there’s a dash of Lebanese inspiration with the Zaza cocktail, a spin on a classic tequila martini with infused za’atar oil. Red, white, rosé, orange and sparkling wines are available from traditional and new world regions, as well as five varieties of sake. East Asian flavours are carried across to the menu. The yellowtail carpaccio with jalapeño sauce and ponzu dressing is beautifully presented and citrussy without being too sharp. Towering brioche toast with crab and gochujang aïoli was a highlight, although there truly were no misses: charred Hispi cabbage is accompanied by an umami-rich wafu sauce, and the miso hake with chilli oil and samphire is buttery and delicate. Greek Cantaloupe sorbet makes the perfect palate cleanser ahead of the silky pandan crème brûlée. Attention to detail goes beyond the menu, with chopsticks resting on hand-painted model cats, DJs spinning vinyl only and an abundance of high-fidelity speakers to keep audiophiles content. Don’t miss a trip to the bathroom through the blue velvet curtain where The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is played on a speaker directly in your cubicle. madcats.uk Parasol, Stoke Newington From the team behind The Sun Tavern, Parasol is a latest addition to the slew of cool cocktail bars in Dalston. With a subtle exterior, stepping down concrete stairs reveals a plush curtain, behind which lies a speakeasy-style bar underneath the depths of Stoke Newington Road. Dark, cosy and with booths and tables plus seats underneath the paper lanterns at the bar, it’s a large space with a disco ball at-the-ready for DJ sessions until the early hours at the weekends. Those more sweet-inclined shouldn’t miss the fragrant Baklava with bourbon, amontillado, pistachio, honey, cardamom and orange blossom, or the whimsical Kinder Bueno with Irish cream liqueur, whisky, cacao and clarified milk. It was the Korean Jesus that stood out from the crowd – a gochujang twist on a spicy margarita balanced with plum soju, honey and with added aromatics from ginger and coriander. Fans of zingy, citrus flavours shouldn’t miss the silky Yuk Fu with Chilean pisco, green chartreuse, earthy matcha, pandan and coconut, and a piece of lemongrass delicately balanced on top. Alongside the house, ‘disco’ and sharing cocktails sit beers, ciders – including Parasol’s own Umbrella London brand – and a sizeable wine list. Bar snacks are kept simple but effective: paprika-topped creamy hummus and crisp Gordal olives make for great counterparts to the liquid refreshment. parasol-london.co.uk Cinco, Dalston Hidden away underneath sister restaurant Corrochio’s, Cinco is a rustic, sultry basement den with flickering candles and bare concrete walls decorated with Mexican art. First and foremost a bar that specialises in agave and Mexican spirits, its collection – including rare bottlings – is curated by Corrochio founders Daniel Corrochio and Amy McQuarrie from their travels across Daniel’s native Mexico. The bar even has its own in-house mezcal available to try and buy. Cocktails are surprising and layered, showcasing the full breadth of what agave spirits have to offer. The Doña Mago uses raicilla (another agave spirit), tomato liqueur, plum sake, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur and plum and tomato cordial for a fabulous margarita-esque drink with smoky, fruity, tangy charm. Another next-level take on a marg comes in the form of the El Chihuas, with sotol (another Mexican distillate, made from the desert spoon plant), fig, guanabana and yuzu liqueurs. The end result is a tropical, creamy drink with a delicate floral edge. The Mujer Moderna features butter-washed Abasolo whisky, Nixta corn liqueur, crème de cacao and chocolate bitters for an opulent, cocoa-tinged interpretation of an old fashioned. Cinco also has a nice little roster of no- and low-alcohol cocktails made using alcohol-free spirits and Mexican ingredients – the La Bikini Cero, with non-alcoholic agave spirit, chilli syrup, verdita water and pineapple has a pleasing spicy kick. corrochios.com Encore, Mayfair Downstairs from Lebanese rotisserie joint Toum, Encore successfully ticks off two cocktail bar buzzwords in one fell swoop: listening bar and speakeasy. Just steps away from Regent Street, this stylish subterranean bar unites a heady mix of Lebanese and French influences across the polished cocktail and snack menus. Twelve signature cocktails showcase inventive twists on classics – a sumac-spiced negroni with tequila is balanced by pomegranate, while the refined mezcal spritz brings in zingy and refreshing yuzu, lime and coconut water. Those sweet-inclined will enjoy the unique yet familiar taste of the tarte tatin: oak aged brandy, vanilla liqueur, coconut water and honey give a balanced sweetness that is never saccharine. The Encore batanga is a stand-out with added depth from sherry and spidery strands of red chilli scattered on top. Unctuous and warm comté madeleines were particularly irresistible from the elevated bar snack menu. Habibi funk and Arabic disco deep cuts can be heard spinning on vinyl, thanks to the sound-diffusing ceiling and speakers dotted around the intimate space. Rich red carpets, mid-century wood panelling and stylish contemporary artwork make the bar the perfect spot for a date night or cosy catch-up with a friend. toumrotisserie.com The Listening Room, Soho Soho’s Wardour Street contains a secret. Downstairs from Japanese-inspired grill and omakase restaurant MOI – and via an impressive retro-futuristic spiral staircase – resides The Listening Room, a spacious underground listening bar. Serious about audio, bespoke speakers are from London-based sound system maker Friendly Pressure, and the walls are covered in soundwave-like textured curves for great acoustics. The drinks menu is led by ex-Langham Dino Koletsas and infused with Asian flavours. The shiro negroni, a refreshing white spin on a negroni with yuzu sake, potato shochu and chrysanthemum bitters has a pleasantly floral nose. Them Apples cleverly recreates the flavour of fresh green apple without using the ingredient itself: instead sparkling green tea, whisky, tomato liqueur and marigold combine for an ultra-refreshing sip. The extensive sake and natural wine list is accessible to both the more experienced and more nascent sipper. Order sushi, small plates and skewers hot off the grill from the upstairs kitchen by executive chef Andy Cook who worked with Gordon Ramsay to open his outpost in Tokyo. The crisp, warm and slightly sweet steamed buns served with smoked cod’s roe was a strong start. Sushi is not one to miss either – we chose Icelandic sea urchin and chutoro tuna temaki delicately wrapped in nori, whose rich flavour was perfectly complemented by dots of wasabi and slices of pickled ginger. moirestaurant.com Side Hustle at The Nomad London, Covent Garden With Side Hustle’s grand marble-topped bar and dark wood, and leather-lined booths with brass rails, what was once the former Bow Street police station now feels like a slice of Manhattan real estate. This is very much in keeping with the NoMad hotel itself, a New York import, but when it comes to the drinks and food this lively bar and restaurant takes its cue from much farther south, with a cocktail menu centred around Latin American flavours and agave spirits. There’s a delightful roster of seasonal margaritas – a rhubarb expression with yuzu and Aperol is tangy and full bodied, while a bergamot and chilli creation has lovely floral notes with tingle of heat. Other classics include a zingy paloma but it’s also worth exploring the roster of house cocktails that explore the variety of agave spirits. We dived into the agave martinis, highlights of which include a dirty tequila-based variation with savoury depth from fino sherry, and a spicy martini using corn-infused mezcal and Thai bird’s-eye chilli for a cocktail with a proper poky punch. Don’t miss out on the bar snacks which include on-point guacamole, prawn croquettes, charred Padrón peppers with umami salsa macha, plus delicious tacos including baja fish, chicken tinga and pork carnitas. hilton.com A Bar With Shapes For A Name, Dalston The name of Remy Savage and Paul Lougrat’s Bauhaus-inspired bar takes pictorial form – the signage on Dalston’s Kingsland Road featuring a yellow triangle, red square and blue circle. If that sounds a little complicated then rest assured once you step into the bar – colloquially referred to as Shapes – everything takes a decidedly more minimalist turn. Inside, bare bones interiors look more akin to a science classroom than anything else, with bartenders flitting around in brightly coloured jumpsuits. The drinks list at Shapes is pleasingly pithy – just seven house cocktails and six bottled cocktails. The martini-style Habanero is an ingenious affair, using a distillate made from yellow habanero peppers that delivers all the vegetal flavours of the pepper minus the heat – funky and savoury, with a zingy Campari jelly garnish. The xscold is a surprising twist on a marg – here, eucalyptus adds a menthol edge to the herbaceous flavours of Amarás espadin mezcal and Ocho 8 tequila for a refreshing agave treat. From the bottled cocktails, a manhattan uses Buffalo Trace bourbon fat washed in olive oil, and a turmeric distillate, for a boozy whisky cocktail with dried date notes and fruity, earthy richness. clubbauhaus.com Bar Kinky, Fitzrovia Hidden underneath modern Georgian restaurant Kinkally, Bar Kinky lives up to its name with sultry interiors and a bold, left-field approach to ingredients and flavours. The small 17-seater bar occupies a sleek, vault-like space with stainless steel walls, sensual red lighting and a techno music soundtrack. The focal point is the marble central island bar around which customers sit – the vibe is somehow intimate yet hectic, with bartenders offering attentive and speedy service. Cocktails look deceptively pared back but have plenty going on behind the scenes, from inventive ingredients to playful garnishes. Bossy is a delicious margarita/gimlet hybrid, with El Rayo Plata tequila, orange, hazelnut and cacao delivering layered flavours and delicate zestiness with soft chocolate notes, plus savouriness from a Georgian seasoning in lieu of a salt rim. Chocolate also plays its part in the smoky and seductively smooth Snatch, alongside truffle, vermouth and Ojo De Dios Mezcal; while Bureau, Bar Kinky’s take on a French 75, is a fruity, fizzy crushable delight with East London Gin, sparkling wine and a frozen pomegranate ball that keeps the drink chilled and subtly changes the flavour as it melts. kinkally.co.uk Câv, Bethnal Green Câv can be found in the railway arches of Paradise Row and comes courtesy of two London bar veterans, Chris Tanner (formerly of Milroy’s and Silverleaf, and founder of Dram London), and Edwin Frost (wine bars Half Cut and Oranj), who have partnered for this bar-cum-restaurant with a rotating kitchen residency. Minimal interiors shine a spotlight on the drinks, which don’t disappoint. The menu is pleasingly pithy, with a roster of revamped classics as well as £7 house martinis, surely one of the best deals in London right now. Cocktails are pared back and poised. The Cucumber Bamboo balances refreshing vegetal flavours with the salinity of Tio Pepe sherry; similarly, the Dill Martini delivers bracing herbaceous notes with a subtle savoury nod from anchovy oil. Câv’s take on the beloved picante with golden beetroot and bird’s-eye chilli offers earthy warmth, while the Plum Manhattan has a sultry fruity and spicy rye character. Their current kitchen residency is Iberian-inspired Tasca by Josh Dallaway and Sinéad Murdoch. Head chef Josh’s menu showcases some of Spain and Portugal’s best regional dishes. These include a trio of different gildas (do try the clever jambon-beurre-inspired one); whipped Wigmore cheese, like a savoury custard, topped with celeriac honey, leeks and fried bread; and the scarlet prawn and pork cachorrinho which is best described as a Porto version of a hot dog and not to be missed. Wine comes from sommelier Sinéad and her lively list focusses heavily on sustainably produced bottles, with 80% from women-led projects. cav255.london Nine Lives, London Bridge Tucked away from the hustle and bustle of London Bridge is a cosy oasis of a bar, serving up some of London's best cocktails. Nine Lives has a buzzy atmosphere, balancing the vibe of a live DJ with the volume at just the right level so you can still chat comfortably. Their new cocktail menu is headed up by William Campbell-Rowntree; the Mello cocktail, a mixture of vodka, Cocchi Americano and honeydew was beautifully refreshing. Equally good was the Godfather sour – made with bourbon, it had a pleasantly balanced taste. To eat there's a small but enticing menu from head chef Ramon Ramos, of tacos, from baja to barbacoa, and small plates. We liked the ceviche sampler, citrussy and refreshing. This cosy, romantic spot also has a bottleshop, offering takeaway cocktails, and outdoor seating to soak up the sun. ninelivesbar.com Oriole, Covent Garden From the moment you step into Oriole you know you’re in for something special. The speakeasy-style interiors – all low lighting, plush textures and eclectic global curios – create a sense of discovery that carries through the entire evening. Head chef Gustavo Giallonardo’s menu draws on the vibrant fusion cuisines of Latin America, with playful, elegant plates that surprise and satisfy. Highlights include sea bass ceviche in bright Amarillo leche de tigre, tender lamb rump with spring greens, huacatay and black olives (reminiscent of a crisp, savoury latke), and melting pork cheek with mash and kimchi Nikkei. Finish with pineapple tartare and a cooling coconut and tarragon sorbet. Live music fills the bar while the cocktail list – arranged by continent and complete with tasting notes – brings even the most obscure ingredients to life. Try the Saraburi Punch, inspired by Thai mango sticky rice, for something silky and delicately sweet. Warm, intuitive service seals the deal – a truly memorable night out. oriolebar.com Viajante87, Notting Hill An ambitious, continent-spanning menu, moody lighting and a chilled-out yet buzzy feel set the tone for this plush, Latin American inspired basement bar in Notting Hill. Viajante means traveller in Spanish and the team’s globe-trotting approach to flavours and drinks is reflected in a lively menu that takes you from familiar classics (palomas, pisco sours, spicy margaritas) to drinks made with unexpected and lesser-known ingredients you may not have come across before. Groups can also order carafes of agave spirits or caipirinhas, and you can even work with the bar to create your own custom cocktail. Viajante87 excels in offering polished and innovative agave riffs on classic drinks. The Mole Manhattan is a tribute to Mexico’s national food, mole, using fig leaves and Criollo de Oaxaca mezcal infused with cacao and sesame along with vegetal Cynar for an evocatively earthy, smoky and nutty cocktail – it’s a must order. The Charanda Old Fashioned is another star, made with Mexican Uruapan rum, Patrón reposado and amburana seed, the latter of which adds rich vanilla and toffee notes for a sumptuous and silky drink. Elsewhere, martini fans should delve into the Martini Malcriado (savoury and herbaceous from brown butter sage mezcal) and the bracingly icy Glacier Martini. Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, try the Leche de Bichos made with floral raicilla spirit, anise hyssop and jocoque, a Mexican fermented yogurt. Tangy and creamy with gentle anise notes, it’s an intriguing note to round off a visit to this west London gem. viajantebar.com Nipperkin, Mayfair Situated in the depths of NIJŪ Japanese grill and sushi bar, Nipperkin is inspired by 1950s Japanese listening bars. Step through ornate curtains into an intimate, mid-century space with plush seating and marvel as expert mixologists fan perfectly cuboid ice, behind them an impressive record collection and vinyl set-up. Centred around micro-seasonality, the drinks menu from award-winning mixologist Angelos Bafas is split into four harvest seasons. Hyper-seasonal British ingredients such as wild garlic, spring flowers and blackberries expertly coalesce with the classic Japanese such as yuzu, shiso and matcha. The highball pickled cucumber was seriously refreshing, as was the Granny Smith and yuzu with Exmoor raw wildflower honey. Macerated blackberries and sloes make a pleasantly herbaceous and bitter sip with Axia extra dry mastiha and Cambridge red bitters, while there’s umami savouriness on offer from the likes of Nipperkin’s aged mushroom spirit, Cambridge truffle gin and tomato liqueur. Don’t overlook the ‘dry’ season – the sour green gooseberries with a non-alcoholic citrus spirit and English wasabi tastes like a lemon meringue pie with a whisper of warmth. Dunk crunchy bar snacks from NIJŪ of seasonal vegetables and lotus chips into creamy tofu with shiso oil and buttery grilled aubergine – and you can even peep into NIJŪ’s kitchen when paying a visit to the adorned bathrooms. nijulondon.com Equal Parts, Hackney Michael Sager has partnered with Matteo Vaccargiu to open an Italian aperitivo bar in a green tiled-fronted corner spot, a few doors down from the original Sager + Wilde wine bar. It’s an elegant yet unfussy space, with plenty of wood panelling, flickering candles and vinyl twirling on the decks. Perch at the window ledge to watch trendy passers-by or bag a spot at the bar to see the team shake and stir signature cocktails in front of an impressive line-up of amaros, aperitivo and bitters. The Flor cocktail combines fino sherry and olive oil vodka with Matteo’s elevated clarification of fresh tomato, basil, chilli and a tiny touch of garlic for a bright, fresh finish, alla liquid bruschetta to evoke the Sardinian coast. The Orange is a gluggable concoction of orange wine, Meletti amaro and pear and elderflower syrup, while the ACE makes a refreshing twist on the garibaldi combining carrot cordial, fresh orange juice, Campari and soda. A seasonal infusion makes its way into a trio of classics; on our visit a strawberry and fig leaf martini combo that brightened the negroni, sbagliato and americano. equalpartslondon.com Swift, Soho This award-winning Soho bar comes from husband-and-wife team Bobby Hiddleston (Dead Rabbit, Callooh Callay) and Mia Johansson (Milk & Honey), and the team behind Nightjar and Oriole. It's a two-part affair, with a buzzy, casual space on the ground floor – best for walk-ins – and darker, intimate underground lounge with sleek crescent booths, inky black tables and moody lighting. The upstairs serves lighter aperitif cocktails (try the signature sgroppino, with lemon sorbet, prosecco and Italicus), while below focuses on more sultry cocktails, as well as whisky, of which they have a 300-strong collection. Their outpost in Shoreditch, has sleek black and white art deco-style interiors making a classy setting for drinking characteristically creative cocktails – try the Carmen with Olmeca Altos plata tequila, toasted blue corn and lime sherbet for a zingy twist on a margarita. The latest addition to the Swift flock landed in Borough in autumn 2022, and it’s every bit as charismatic as its siblings. Tucked away like a hidden gem, the speakeasy-style bar downstairs offers an intimate, effortlessly cool vibe. The latest cocktail menu, South of the River, features 14 inventive creations, each one a tribute to the landmarks, people, and rich history of South London, adding a fresh twist to the city’s cocktail scene. barswift.com Archive & Myth, Leicester Square A partnership between the brains behind Magic Mike Live and cocktail legend Jack Sotti might seem unusual but is exquisitely executed in this central London speakeasy-style bar. Once through the secret door beside the Magic Mike entrance of Leicester Square's Hippodrome Casino, a sultry, sophisticated allure takes over in a room enrobed in velvet, vintage furniture, memorabilia from the venue’s times gone by and a nostalgic soul soundtrack. There's a whole menu dedicated to 'minor' (small yet punchy) half serves, allowing guests to taste more. Stored in the bottle at -20°, the stony Martini Mineraux is a blend of Renais gin, limestone and dash of Chablis, with a spray of lemon oil to finish. Sazerac De Nata is a unique twist on the original, with an absinthe-injected quail's egg yolk plopped into the brandy and pastry tincture to emulate the flavours of the popular Portuguese pastry. Juicy guava and tequila-laced Daisy, perhaps the prettiest of the ‘major’ full size cocktails, comes topped with a creamy toasted coconut and black cardamom meringue-like foam. Snacks from adjacent restaurant Chop Chop include veggie dumplings with spicy chilli oil, crunchy salt and pepper prawns and pillowy char siu pork buns, freshly served from bamboo steamers. archiveandmyth.com Kwãnt, Mayfair Former American Bar head bartender Erik Lorincz is generally regarded as one of the best in the business and his feted bar is the stage for an original new drinking experience. Kwãnt previously had digs on Heddon Street before the pandemic forced its closure. It reopened in 2023, and the new incarnation, minutes from Green Park station, is a refined tropical oasis with high ceilings and tall windows, Polynesian-inspired art, leafy palms, a huge glass cabinet filled with vintage spirits and an elegant six-seater island bar around which white-jacketed bartenders work seamlessly. Kwãnt’s new cocktail omakase is exclusive to this central counter, with one seating per night taking place at 6pm, Thursday to Saturday. Nikka is its first collaborator, with five mini cocktails showcasing the Japanese brand’s spirits, paired with small bites from chef Joni Ketonen. Bold flavour pairings pepper a smoothly paced, 90-minute session (suavely stewarded by Erik himself). Nikka Coffey gin is blended with sea urchin and bonito, and matched with sake, champagne and verjus for a mineral, saline aperitif. Elsewhere, the versatility of whisky is showcased in drinks like the smoky, refreshing Tomato with Nikka Taketsuru single malt, pickle brine, tomato and Seedlip Garden; and the earthy, savoury Beetroot featuring Nikka Miyagikyo single malt, beetroot, miso and aged sake (here paired with a moreish one-bite beef tartare). The omakase ends with our favourite drink of the evening, Oolong, a take on an Irish coffee with Yoichi single malt, oolong tea mixed with wasanbon sugar and a topping of soy meringue foam – a deliciously creamy, delicate digestif. Nikka’s collaboration runs until 31 March, after which the omakase continues with new brands yet to be announced. 5coursedrinktastingmenu.square.site/ Good Measure, Tooting The team at Tooting’s Taiwanese hotspot, Daddy Bao, has converted its basement storeroom into an intimate bar inspired by the drinking dens of Taipei. A large cherry wood table takes centre stage amongst the packed shelves, Taiwanese trinkets including intricate paper fans, lamps and elegant vases add cosiness and Malika chats away over the low counter while shaking and stirring concoctions inspired by trips to Taiwan. Get there before 7pm for the mini martini hour, working your way through the likes of bamboo charcoal filtered Haku vodka, floral Roku gin and bright and earthy fig and mezcal flavours, all at £5 a pop. On the menu proper, written up on the large fridges (it’s still a fully functioning storeroom after all!), the house negroni comes laced with sake and orange bitters while cream of matcha is an innovative twist on a milk punch with a clarified mix of gin, sake, Greek yoghurt and matcha cream. Pair with satisfying snacks such as crunchy fried chicken with miso mayo, aged sirloin tataki and smacked Szechuan cucumber. daddybao.co.uk Muse at RSA House, West End Hidden away in the elegant Georgian environs of RSA House, Muse offers a welcome respite from the busy nearby Strand, with a fine line in sustainably minded cocktails. In partnership with Idyll Drinks and Company of Cooks, the bar is on a mission to spotlight British ingredients, all served in a relaxed, subtly luxe setting. Drinks, designed by Marcis Dzelzainis (Sager + Wilde), are brimming with unusual seasonal and botanical ingredients, from hawthorn and rosehip rum cocktails to a truffle vodka martini. Particularly interesting are a roster of classic cocktails made with wild distillates. Our favourites included a pisco sour made with pineapple weed liqueur – smooth and creamy with a delicate tropical cast – and a wild carrot margarita with a warming, earthy, herbaceous character. thersa.org/muse-at-rsa-house The Bloomsbury Club Bar, Bloomsbury Tucked underneath the Bloomsbury Hotel is this cosy art deco den that will transport you back to 1920s high society that was loved by the writers and artists of the time. The low-lit interior features luxurious leather armchairs, wall-to-wall bookshelves and an impressive, curved bar that serves ancient Egypt inspired cocktails that you can enjoy alongside bar bites and live music. The names, flavours and ingredients of the cocktails are inspired by hieroglyphs found carved in stone near the pyramids. Se Shen, which means lotus flower, pairs gin with the refreshing flavours of hibiscus, rose soda and adds sweetness of strawberry and raspberry. If you like a bit of a kick to your drink, Wadjet (goddess of serpents) blends tequila, vermouth and strawberry, finishing off with a rim of chilli salt for added fire. Enjoy your drinks with a selection of bar snacks that include pea and gorgonzola arancini, and beef and cheddar sliders. thebloomsburyclub.com Three Sheets, Soho Max and Noel Venning need no introduction in the cocktail world. The original Three Sheets in Dalston is a bartenders’ institution, thanks to its stripped-back interiors, late-night vibes and innovative. The brothers were pre-batching cocktails before it became a trend, setting standards high with their floral sparkling French 75 served in a champagne bottle. This iconic cocktail is still on the menu at the new spot in the heart of Soho, joined by many new stand-out contenders. An elegant version of a dirty martini has a delicate floral finish thanks to Ethiopian Koseret tea-infused Belvedere and a silkiness courtesy of an olive oil fat wash. Mezcal Sunrise is a juicy, long drink with smoky depth and floral bergamot notes from earl grey-infused mezcal, bright and citrussy freshly squeezed mandarin juice and a touch of marigold powder for subtle earthiness. Sazzaquack makes a short, smooth whisky number with notes of black treacle and a subtle spice finish thanks to homemade five spice tincture. The vibe is a little sleeker than the original, with marble tables, teal blue booths and black and white photographs of Soho's characters reminding punters that they are in the hearty of London's drinking district. threesheets-bar.com Coupette, Bethnal Green This is a super cool drinking den, where banter over the bar (made from French centimes) is encouraged and staff greet you with smiles and a taster of the slushie of the day as a welcome refresher. The showstopping champagne piña colada is a must-try – a mix of Bacardi Heritage, French-Caribbean agricole rum, pineapple and coconut sorbet, topped up with Moët & Chandon brut. The owners let their creativity loose on the rotating menu, the current iteration, “Barely Legal”, taking inspiration from East London’s street art. Each page showcases a unique commission from a local muralist to complement the cocktail in question, with a handy summary ‘compass’ of flavours on the first page, categorising the menu into sweet, bitter, boozy dry and refreshing citrus. Start with the Paper Plane Cobbler, a long, refreshing take on a negroni, the bitter Aperol and sour Tamarillo Amaro balanced by sweet sauternes and guava gel. On the sweet side, Nuts For Nuts makes an ideal night cap, a rich, sweet and fluffy liquid made from peanut butter distilled gin, nut cream and blitzed pistachios, walnuts and cashews, with oloroso sherry giving a fresh edge. coupette.co.uk Hacha, Dalston London’s original agaveria adds a splash of contemporary sunshine to Kingsland Road, with peach and mustard tiles, plenty of palms and an array of art to whisk you away to warmer climes. Perch at the bar and glide your eyes over the agave list, numbered in price order to help you choose. Each of the mezcals and tequilas comes with a complementary pairing, be that a thimble of vermouth, square of chocolate or something salty. Award-winning agave cocktails include the iconic mirror margaritas, made with a house sour mix to keep things clear, both in colour and taste, allowing the spirit to shine in a clean and bright no-nonsense serve. The honey bee margarita is another stand out, the chipotle-infused honey giving a soft, salty sweetness with a hint of heat. Current food residency is handled by Mexican street food wizards, Tigre Tacos. Crisp coated chunks of soft fish topped with zingy cabbage and pico de gallo make the baja fish tacos a must order. Portobello mushrooms, pickled carrots and crispy soy lime kale take vegetarian tacos to new heights, while tuna tostadas blanketed in crisp frilly chives make a silky, crisp, crunchy contender to mix up the textures a bit. hachabar.com Dram, Soho You’d be forgiven for walking past this low-key and unassuming Soho frontage of sanded wooden shutters on Denmark Street, but head in and this Grade II listed building starts to slowly unfold with surprises. There’s a basement bar, an open garden terrace, upstairs pool table room, private events room and a hidden drinks development “lab”. The more you uncover, the more you appreciate the creative vision of the founders – Chris Tanner, Martyn ‘Simo’ Simpson and Jack Wallis – as they’ve skilfully dissected and reassembled the concepts of what a bar is. The lab is where seasonal ingredients are fermented or “cordialised” and find their way into a short but succinct cocktail menu. Many are on tap and so available swiftly in the bar areas. Try one of the lower ABV highball serves such as the Mezcal & Coconut, or a stirred-down cocktail like Beetroot and Raspberry Wine, with a subtle earthiness from the beetroot that balances well with the sweet sharpness of the wine. Keep an eye on their events page for weekly rotating chef takeovers from September - excellently paired with specially crafted drinks. drambar.co.uk Lowcountry, Shoreditch Head down to this intimate basement bar, whether you’re awaiting your tasting menu at Counter71 upstairs or just fancy an evening of sleek, American South-style drinks and hospitality from head bartender Ryan Sheehan. Signatures include a clear, delicate tomato water and jalapeño-infused tequila cocktail. Classic creations feature the likes of the vieux carré, a complex and silky New Orleans stalwart that combines rye, cognac, sweet vermouth and Benedictine with bitters, and the London negroni, which uses spirits from Highgate’s Sacred distillery. Southern-inspired snacks soak up the booze – fried chicken clusters and tater tots are served with ranch sauce and cheesy dip for dunking. counter71.co.uk Freddles, London Fields In a cosy, glittery room below lively neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar, Papi, Freddles is an intimate spot to meet friends over innovative drinks. Bartender Thomas Auger was born in Paris to French and Vietnamese parents and has picked up techniques from some of London’s top cocktail bars (NOLA, Discount Suit Company, Milk & Honey) to develop his own eclectic style. The 12-strong menu is split into two halves, the first a ‘playground’ in which Thomas experiments with a seasonal old fashioned, milk punch, long drink, and carbonised cocktail, plus two wild cards in the mix. The old fashioned might be incorporate marmite for an umami hit or coconut and pandan syrup in a tropical twist. Or the milk punch could be a spring take on a piña colada made with a clarified concoction of carrot juice and pumpkin purée. The weekly spotlight gives space for classic cocktails with Thomas’s touch. Think elegant sparkling elderflower and vodka twinkles, a punchy rye sazerac or a hanky panky made using bitter Fernet-Branca. Bar snacks include pillowy slabs of toasted milk bread to dip into treacle butter, and ex-dairy beef tartare with deep-fried waffles. papirestaurant.com/freddles Bar Lina, Soho Beneath the iconic pastel-hued Italian deli, a Soho stalwart since 1944, you’ll find this elegant basement bar hidden in true speakeasy fashion. The small space is adorned in 60s-style furnishings complete with deep red velvet banquettes, soft chrome lighting and a speckled red marble bar that boasts a backdrop of aperitif bottles. The menu focuses on revisitations of classic Italian cocktails, with a whole section dedicated to the negroni (including the La Voglia La Pazzia fatwashed in coffee butter) and the spritz (try the Mambo Italiano that uses Campari infused with rosemary and honey topped up with citrusy clarified grapefruit). The signature figlet is a short, bittersweet number combining two fig liqueurs (one homemade and one bottled in Seven Sisters using Italian fig leaves) with a touch of vanilla syrup. barlina.co.uk The Lower Third, Soho Think of the Lower Third as a neighbourhood bar with ambition. Located on Denmark Street, it's unpretentious yet smart enough to feel special, where it’s just as easy to order a beer and a shot as it is a deftly mixed cocktail. The bar is the first of several spaces that branch out, warren-like, into the building, a mix of smaller performance areas and larger capacity venues. Keen to pay tribute to the legendary musical heritage of Denmark Street as well as the site’s former incarnation, music venue The 12 Bar Club, there’s a commitment to showcasing new and local talent, as well as more well-known bands and artists. Back in the bar, Shannon Tebay, previously of the American Bar at the Savoy and Death & Co in New York, has created a roster of twists on classic cocktails, with names taken from albums by major artists that have recorded on Denmark Street. Hits on our visit included Never Mind the Bollocks – a savoury, vegetal margarita with St George Green Chile vodka, blanco tequila, Haitian clairin rum and banana; and Band of Gypsys, a seductively smoky, negroni-style drink with mezcal, Campari, vermouth, coffee and tropical notes from passion fruit. If you’ve ever wondered what a piña colada made with scotch tastes like, then try the Schoolboys in Disgrace, where Monkey Shoulder and Talisker 10 Year Old make a surprisingly successful match with coconut cream and melon liqueur – the whisky adding a warm, boozy backbone to the drink. thelowerthird.co.uk Dover Yard, Mayfair This sleek bar is hidden away in eco chic oasis, 1 Hotel Mayfair. Natural aesthetics include low gnarled wood tables with sofas and throws in soft, muted tones. A striking bar showcases delicate racing pigeon feathers worked into a gentle wave beneath the glass. Repurposed ingredients take the limelight in the eclectic range of sophisticated cocktails. Rum-based falernum liqueur is fat-washed with left-over breakfast pastries and shaken with the bar’s own lemon sour mash, made from squeezing surplus lemon and lime husks, to create the unique Pan Brioche cocktail, reminiscent of a whisky sour and topped with a tiny croissant. Rotating seasonal classics include the vibrant Purple Carrot Garibaldi that infuses vodka with English purple carrots, while the lower-ABV Palomito is a long, bittersweet and refreshing concoction of Campari, Mancino Chinato vermouth and pink grapefruit. 1hotels.com Lyaness, Southbank Ryan Chetiyawardana’s flagship bar is lauded for its innovative mixology, and also happens to be one of the nicest places to enjoy a cocktail on the South Bank. On the ground floor of the Sea Containers hotel, it combines a light, bright palette of sky blue walls, electric blue banquettes, opulent gold accents and a sweeping emerald green marble bar (leftover from the site’s previous iteration, the award-winning Dandelyan) with glorious views of the Thames. It is a fresh, modern take on what a hotel bar should be, with yearly changing cocktail menus a product of meticulous research and freewheeling creativity. The latest, Collaboration Menu, is themed around cooperation and the coming together of ideas. If that all sounds rather serious then, rest assured, the drinks themselves are fun and full of flavour. The menu makes use of 12 housemade ingredients, from savoury and creamy KitKat-so, a koji and KitKat combo, to the sweet-sour-umami Bitterless Aperitif, a fusion of grapefruit, radicchio and plantain. The zippy Vantapink Gimlet is a tangy, tart confection of Botanist gin, ‘spite cordial’ made with dock leaves, rhubarb and fermented nettles, while the No Spoon Old Fashioned, matching Del Maguey mezcal with walnut honey and hibiscus-based ‘purple bitters’ is punchily smoky and spicy. Top billing on our visit went to the Pitstop Fix, using Port Charlotte 10 whisky, KitKat-so, linden honey, tropical chilli and lemon for a delicious next-level sour – smoky and savoury, creamy and silky. lyaness.com Stereo, Covent Garden Beneath the depths of Covent Garden’s cobblestones sits Stereo, a cocktail bar that harks back to the analogue era with its 70s-esque brown wood panelled décor, vintage cocktails, vinyl-only DJ sets and live bands. From the focal point bar surrounded by orb-shaped lamps, disco punch bowls are mixed with STEREO house vodka and Thames Distillers gin as well as 70s- and 80s-inspired cocktails using vintage vermouth and other aged spirits. Negroni and espresso martini are on draft or choose from the likes of Flying Paper’s black sesame seed-encrusted tumbler with Buffalo Trace bourbon hibiscus, amaro Montenegro and lemon, or Sunset in Oaxaca’s evening pick-me-up with Tapatio tequila blanco, mezcal, rhubarb cordial, Aperol, lemon and orange blossom. Kick off the night with à la carte American-inspired dishes of dredged fried chicken sandos and macaroni cheese with a brioche crumb – chef-restaurateur Andrew Clarke of Acme Fire Cult consulted on the menu – accompanied by the smooth house band. Then dance until the early hours with their rotating line-up of DJs. If you get peckish, late-night bar snacks and nibbles will keep you going with the likes of warm popcorn with espelette salt and STEREO hot wings. stereocoventgarden.com 3’6 at Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly Fortnum’s third-floor bar has been revamped into a sleek, plush cocktail den, with inky blue walls, jewel-coloured velvet sofas and a striking 3D-printed bar complete with an undulating wooden wave installation that flows across the ceiling. Design your own cocktail, mixing and matching spirits, cocktail styles, flavours and bitters. A negroni-style drink with tequila, strawberries and rose is herbaceous, floral and delicate. Other highlights include highballs made with house-fermented sodas – try pomegranate and rosemary. fortnumandmason.com Bar Daskal, London Bridge This warm and intimate Iberian-inspired wine bar comes from Harts Group, the brains behind Barrafina and Parrillan, bringing Spanish wines, sherries and cocktails to Borough Yards in London Bridge. Creamy walls, stone chequered floors, cheerful Mallorcan fabrics and objects, and a bar covered in terracotta-hued tiles bring relaxed Med vibes to the space. Spanish fortified wines and spirits take centre stage in the pithy cocktail list – try the Eduardo, featuring dry sherry, vermut and bitters for a toasty, savoury take on a manhattan. The sherry list also shines: we tried a funky unfiltered manzanilla and a complex, nutty palo cortado. bardaskal.co.uk Eve Bar, Covent Garden Hidden away in one of central London’s busiest neighbourhoods, Eve Bar is a slinky, neon-lit drinking den with zero-waste cocktails and superior bar snacks. Sister bar to the Michelin-starred Frog by Adam Handling upstairs, Eve leans into its biblical moniker with illuminated stained-glass windows and ornate branches, apples and foliage snaking around the space. Its cocktail offering is intimately linked with the restaurant – ingredients that can’t be used upstairs in the kitchen are repurposed in the drinks downstairs. The latest menu, Technique, showcases this in drinks such as the Chicken Butter OF, which combines the eponymous butter (a signature of chef Adam’s) with Michter’s Sour Mash whisky and porcini – the end result is a supercharged old fashioned with opulent butterscotch notes. Another winner, Rocket Fuel, is an elevated spicy margarita, with chilli and kimchi adding tangy, funky heat. Non-alcoholic drinks also impress – the Olive Garden with Everleaf Forest, apple and olive brine is subtly saline and flavourful. Don’t miss out on the next-level bar snacks courtesy of Frog. Dainty and refined, favourites included decadent duck egg and parmesan custards served in a billowing flourish of dry ice, and springy sourdough with more of that luscious chicken butter. evebar.co.uk Swift, Borough Acclaimed London bar Swift has brought its trademark art deco style and speakeasy vibes to Borough. The two-storey space is modelled after the original Soho site (there's also one in Shoreditch), with a lighter, airy bar on the ground floor, with a no-reservation policy and an aperitivo drinks offering – perfect for post-work drinks. Downstairs, discover an intimate, glossy and dimly lit subterranean set-up. Named the Back Pocket, it’s a seated-only area with a new menu of original cocktails (although you can still find Swift classics including its impeccable Irish coffee) inspired by the history and people of the surrounding Borough area. Drinks are free of fussy garnishes yet complex and nuanced. Highlights include the Biscuit Town – malted milk scotch, cacao, demerara, chocolate and vanilla bitters – and full of comforting creamy chocolate and biscuit notes. The Golden Hinde, featuring mead, anejo tequila and brown butter, is perfectly balanced: toasty, rich and layered. The Pilgrim marries peaty, smoky scotch and spicy bourbon with juicy, fruity notes from cherry to make a fabulous fruity whisky cocktail. barswift.com Cellar at Kindred, Hammersmith The hectic roundabout at Hammersmith Broadway is an unexpected setting for cocktails, but members’ club Kindred, in the elegant Grade-II listed Bradmore House, has launched Cellar, a laidback café and bar open to the public. In relaxed and casual surroundings, cocktails come courtesy of resident mixologist Julian de Feral (Milk & Honey, Lutyens and Hawksmoor) and offer plenty of accessible, crowd-pleasing twists on classics. Try the Brambl-ita – Curado Cupreata smoked tequila with lime, spiced chocolate bitters and blackberry liqueur – for a vibrantly fruity, satisfyingly zingy twist on a margarita. Those looking for a lighter tipple should opt for the Kindred Spritz, using flavour-packed non-alcoholic aperitif Everleaf to add extra oomph alongside cherry aperitif, peach and jasmine soda and sparkling wine for a delicate, floral drink. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Cellar takes a classic espresso martini and injects it with tropical character with the addition of Aluna coconut and coffee liqueur, Cargo Cult banana spiced rum and spices for an opulent serve. wearekindred.com Sweeties, King's Cross Step into the Standard hotel’s sleek red pill lift and zoom up to the 10th floor for this luxe bar that combines retro interiors with playful, off-beat cocktails and unrivalled views of King’s Cross and St Pancras. In keeping with its home, a restored 1970s Brutalist office block, Sweeties takes its cue from the same decade, with opulent interiors including velvet sofas, mirrored tables, gold accents, wood panelling and patterned carpets. The cocktail menu features ‘feel-good ingredients and mood-enhancing mixes’ designed to be energising and uplifting. We’re not sure if we felt these effects but regardless the drinks are very good. Pick Me Up – made with eight adaptogens (ingredients that help the body deal with stress) mushrooms, vodka, rum, caramel and burnt butter drank like an elevated espresso martini, layered and earthy, with rounded depth. Roots Manuva – riesling vermouth, golden beet caramel, turmeric, ginseng, ginger, orange and mead – is vibrant, honeyed and fresh, with a vegetal edge. No Whey Jose, blanco tequila with strawberry, red rice, rose and a salted hot coconut foam, was the delightful cocktail equivalent of a Campino strawberry candy. Purple Rain – Johnny Walker whisky, amazake, salted plum, cherry bark and blossom wine – was like an extra fruity old fashioned, bursting with berry flavours, smoky and subtly savoury. standardhotels.com/sweeties Seed Library, Shoreditch Ryan Chetiyawardana’s latest venture is a slinky drinking den in the basement of the One Hundred Shoreditch hotel. Whereas his flagship bar – Lyaness at Sea Containers in Southbank – showcases a high-concept approach to mixology, Seed Library is deliberately more casual and low key. Walk-ins are encouraged and the space, with its sultry lighting, wood-panelled walls, red velvet chairs and warm palette, feels retro and slightly louche, yet very welcoming. Expect elevated riffs on cocktail classics with a touch of whimsy. The vibrant Breakfast Bellini with Patrón tequila, century beans, breakfast fruit and champagne is served with a fried egg sweet balanced on top of the glass. Asteriod Garden is a celestial spin on the English Garden, lifted with shochu and pink meteor wine, while apple blossom and tundra tea bring refreshment. A Coriander Seed Gimlet is gorgeously executed – clean and citrusy with a backbone of gentle, warming spice. Bar snacks include the likes of nocerella olives, spiced nuts and chilli rice crackers - everything you want from a nibble: savoury, salty and crunchy. Analogue lovers can find East London's Diggers Dozen spinning vinyl at the weekend. seedlibraryshoreditch.com Dona, Stoke Newington There’s something soothingly womb-like and seductive about descending into Doña, with its basement setting and sumptuous, lavishly trimmed décor of wall-to-wall rich reds and pinks scattered with prickly cacti, velvet seating and a fabulous pink-fringed bar. It’s an all-female affair – founded by friends Thea Cumming and Lucia Massey, and functions as both mezcal bar and community arts platform – there’s music and performance most nights, with an emphasis on female and queer artists, and a lively cultural programme. There's also tacos on tap, thanks to Tigre Tacos upstairs. Thea has her own mezcal brand, Dangerous Don, and founded London Mezcal Week, so it’s no surprise Doña is a treasure trove of rare and small-batch mezcals. If you’re new to mezcal then we recommend starting with the short but hard-working cocktail list, which explores the versatility of this smoky agave spirit. Take the Fiorella: made with Quiquiriqui mezcal, dry vermouth, Italicus and Empirical Ayuuk, it has the clean, crystalline feel of a martini but with a herbaceous, earthy backbone. Or try the Monika, with Dangerous Don Café, chocolate, crème de cacao, Cocchi Americano and amaretto, which tastes like a refined, elevated espresso martini, replete with coffee, chocolate and nutty notes. Doña also makes a cracking house margarita – we asked for a spicy version and the end result was superb, poky and zesty with a savoury, briny twang at the end. bardonalondon.com Connaught Bar, Mayfair Low-lit, slinky, plush luxury is the name of the game at this acclaimed hotel bar, whose tastefully decadent surrounds – metallic accents, mirrors, a mutedly rich palate and plenty of seating to sink into – is matched by impeccable service and even more impressive cocktails. If you only order one drink let it be the martini – made at a trolley by your table with theatrical, expert aplomb (watching them pour the martini in a high, silvery stream into your glass is a sight to behold). Tanqueray No Ten is the recommended serve, along with a blend of vermouths and your choice of homemade bitters (ranging from tonka bean and lavender to cardamom, on our visit). The end result is spot on, silky textured and very generous in size – don’t drink one on an empty stomach. Their latest menu, Formae, also has much to explore, drawing inspiration from the shapes and forms of the surrounding bar. We tried the Voronoi – a fruitier, lighter take on a margarita with Tapatio tequila, Michoacan mezcal, vetiver liqueur, lime and timur sherbet, vermouth, grapefruit hops bitters and agave water. Thought has gone into the zero-alcohol offering, too – we enjoyed the sprightly Pietra with ginseng and bergamot kombucha, osmanthus honey syrup and sauvignon blanc juice. Complimentary buttery olives and crackers are continuously refilled by meticulously attentive staff, and winning canapés include ultra-light and crispy tempura made with seasonal veg, crispy salmon sashimi with chipotle mayo and velvety guacamole. the-connaught.co.uk/connaught-bar Three Sheets, Dalston A stripped-back cocktail bar with a succinct list of drinks, Three Sheets has raked in the plaudits over the years but still retains a buzzy neighbourhood hang-out vibe. It was the first venture from the Venning brothers, originally from Manchester, who have worked in leading cocktail bars for years, most notably Max’s experience with Tony Conigliaro’s Drinks Factory and 69 Colebrooke Row and Noel’s time in Manchester at tequila bar Crazy Pedro’s. More recently, they've also helped found Crouch End's Little Mercies (see below) and Highbury wine bar Top Cuvée – as well as its roaringly successful shop, Shop Cuvée. Max and Noel aren’t big on the showy side of cocktail making – behind the bar is a simple shelf of bottles containing only what the mixologists need for the short cocktail list. This no-frills approach allows the brothers’ northern charm to shine through; they chat away and recommend local haunts while shaking up drinks as though hosting you in their own home. The pithy drinks list changes seasonally, but usually features their famous fizzy pre-bottled French 75, made with gin, verjus, clarified lemon juice, moscato and orange flower. Poured straight into your glass like champagne, it’s dangerously easy to drink (you can buy it buy the glass, or, even better, by the bottle).threesheets-bar.com SOMA, Soho This understated bar occupies subterranean premises on Soho’s Denman Street, next door to sister restaurant Kricket. Inside, expect pared-back yet polished cocktails served in low-lit, slinkily minimalist surrounds – think a stainless steel bar, indigo walls and walnut furnishings. SOMA – like Kricket – takes inspiration from the Indian subcontinent, serving snappily executed riffs on classic cocktails that showcase clever spicing and an eclectic approach to ingredients. Start with the mooli, a crystalline affair of vodka with curry leaf-infused vermouth served ice-cold from the freezer and garnished with a sliver of pickled mooli. Savoury and peppery, delicate and clean, it may be a Marmite drink for some, but fans of a gibson martini should make a beeline for it. The chaat – mezcal, tequila, chaat masala, kumquat and a moreish gooseberry salt – is winningly clean, zesty and saline, while the oak is a silky, nutty, opulent marriage of cardamom, aged gin, amaro, vermouth and amontillado sherry. It's the perfect nightcap to end the evening. somasoho.com Little Mercies, Crouch End Modern, easy-drinking cocktails are the focus at Alan Sherwood’s (Peg + Patriot, Scout) laidback establishment. Inside, it's calm and composed – expect a minimalist interior of exposed brick, a concrete bar, pendant lamps and inky blue walls. The cocktails here are elegant, with plenty of homemade ingredients – most recently, a negroni made with the bar's own passionfruit vermouth. There's also a fun yet innovative approach to classic drinks, think bellinis made with lacto-fermented peach, kiwi gimlets and 'Snickers' old fashioneds. littlemercies.co.uk Nightjar, Shoreditch The busy City Road in Shoreditch seems an unlikely setting for a stylish, subterranean speakeasy bar but that’s exactly where you’ll find Nightjar. On the outside, a tall wooden door sandwiched between two cafés is the only evidence of its existence, but go inside and discover a plush space replete with candlelit tables, leather banquette seating and flatteringly dim lighting. The bar’s characteristically detailed drinks menu riffs on old cocktail recipes (ranging from the pre-prohibition to post-war periods) but adds its own twist. Try the Honeymoon – a short, fresh yet punchy blend of Glenfiddich 21-year-old whisky, Nightjar’s ‘forbidden fruit liqueur’ (a mix of citrussy pomelo, sherry and dry vermouth), Cynar, mead, lemon and geranium leaf. It's a complex drink, dry and delicately smoky, with subtle honey and aniseed notes. Drink nerds should investigate the bar’s vintage spirits menu, which is full of rare, aged spirits dating from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. barnightjar.com Photography: Laura Aziz (Muse at RSA House)
This make-ahead baked rice pudding flavoured with cinnamon and orange is a simple Christmas dessert that incorporates a playful Swedish festive tradition.
Recipe author Sebastian Graus says, "Rice pudding is a Christmas Eve staple in my family, always ladled out at lunch before the festivities begin. This baked version is simple to prepare in advance and tastes just as good the next day. Don’t forget the almond – whoever finds it is said to win good fortune for the year." Try Sebastian's Swedish baked rice pudding, then discover cardamom rice pudding, classic rice pudding and Spanish rice pudding. Swedish baked rice pudding recipe
Roasted beetroot, crisp apple and dill come together in a sharp honey and mustard dressing for a bright, crunchy Nordic salad ideal for winter spreads and festive gatherings.
Recipe author Sebastian Graus says, "Every Christmas my Finnish mum made rosolli, a jewel-bright beetroot salad that’s a staple on Finnish festive tables. Its freshness cuts beautifully through the heavier parts of the feast”. Try Sebastian's Swedish roasted beet and apple salad, then discover beetroot soup, beetroot and goat's cheese salad, beetroot burgers and more brilliant beetroot recipes. Swedish roasted beet and apple salad recipe
Lounge in a freestanding bath tub, take your pick from a pillow menu and tuck into Moroccan eggs with labneh at London’s best hotels
Looking for the best hotels in London? Want to know where to stay in central London? Our guide to London’s best boutique hotels… For more hotel inspiration, discover the best UK spa hotels for food lovers, the most romantic hotels in the UK and the best UK country house hotels. Check out some of our London food guides, including the best restaurants in Fitzrovia, best restaurants in Battersea and best restaurants in Chelsea. The Hari, Belgravia – for a stylish hotel in the heart of the action Doubles from £387, check availability at booking.com Tucked on smart a Belgravia terrace, this low-key and stylish hotel is bang in the heart of the London action. Its mid-century aesthetic – glossy marble, chic lighting, vintage-leaning furniture – is designer-sharp but warm feeling, and the team strikes a similar balance: relaxed, friendly and focussed. The food action centres on Il Pampero, a handsome Italian dining room with leather booths and mood lighting. The kitchen deals in big-flavour comfort: zingy tartare di tonno, creamy burrata with bitter radicchio and hazelnuts, and pici cacio e pepe spun theatrically through a whole wheel of cheese. There’s a tidy list of Italian wines, classic cocktails at the bar and a small roof terrace for a pre-dinner spritz. Rooms stay faithful to the hotel’s retro-modern polish. Our eighth-floor space framed a wide sweep of London, while the bathroom – clad in all-round marble – held a deep bath built into a bay-style window. Modern artwork, a well-chosen minibar, a slate board of macaroons and truffles on arrival, and sustainable toiletries from Jo Loves added to the thoughtful touches. Breakfast returns to Il Pampero, where a help-yourself counter heaving with smoothies, pastries and fruit sits beside a menu of cooked dishes. Speciality eggs, healthy plates and a reliable full English mean most bases are covered. It’s relaxed, plentiful and exactly what you want before a day exploring the capital. Doubles from £387, check availability at booking.com The Laslett, Notting Hill – for period luxury with modern design From £350 per night, check availability at booking.com Set across a row of Victorian townhouses off Notting Hill Gate, The Laslett is a boutique hotel with heart. It’s polished but unfussy, with clean period detail offset by sharp modern design. Food is served from the informal Henderson Bar & Kitchen. Named after Russ Henderson, one of the founders of the Notting Hill Carnival, it runs a short all-day menu: padrón peppers, gazpacho and prawn croquetas as small plates; chicken milanese, lobster roll or stone bass with fregola for larger options. Ingredients are sourced from London suppliers like HG Walter and Natoora. Desserts include basque cheesecake or warmed chocolate brownie, while the bar serves local beers and classic cocktails. A small terrace for observing the west London street bustle comes into its own in summer. The vibrant rooms make use of airy floor-to-ceiling windows and bold interior design. Penguin Classics, vintage record players with hand-picked vinyl, and antiques from local dealers lend eccentric local character. Breakfast includes full english alongside pancakes, smoothie bowls, granola and the hotel’s signature bagel. Rooms start from £350 a night. Rooms start from £350 per night. Check availability at living-rooms.co.uk or booking.com Beaverbrook Townhouse, Sloane Square – for colourful luxury From £580 per night, check availability at booking.com Sloane Square’s Beaverbrook Townhouse is the city output of the original Surrey hotel, and is just as opulent. Behind the neat, period facade is a riot of art deco splendour and heritage nods. Hotel rooms are all named after London theatres and take interior design to giddy heights, with plushness, pastels, geometrics, florals, terrazzo and more, all thrown together harmoniously – an eccentric British aesthetic that feels very old school London. Unique touches include an epic bathroom with a waterfall shower decked in iridescent emerald tiles, a retractable and rotating TV, and velvety soft furnishings. The hotel’s restaurant is a true hidden gem – The Fuji Grill offers a highly polished Japanese dining experience centred around ‘Tapasu’, a take on tapas-style design that blends classic technique with a communal, small plates spirit. There’s a flawless sushi selection, including signature temaki alongside dishes cooked on a bincho charcoal grill, like sake kombu hispi cabbage, caramel ponzu long aubergine and yuzu miso black cod. The drinks menu, served from the cosily lit Sir Frank’s Bar, is vast and includes inventive cocktails and non-alcoholic versions, plus speciality sake and plenty of Japanese whisky. Service is attentive, friendly and relaxed. Breakfast is also served in the Fuji Grill restaurant, meaning it’s an ambient affair. Dishes include granola with Beaverbrook estate honey, homemade yogurt and peach compote, truffled eggs, full English and spinach scramble. Where to eat and drink nearby Sloane Square is at the heart of central-west London action and is close to Belgravia, Chelsea and Kensington. You’ll find plenty of pubs with great food, including Ganymede, The Pig’s Ear and The Orange, plus special occasion restaurants like Cornus. Rooms start from £580 per night inclusive of breakfast and taxes for two guests in a Deluxe Room. Check availability at Beaverbook Townhouse or booking.com The Hoxton, Southwark – for a buzzy bar and Mediterranean vibe From £189, check availability at booking.com The Hoxton Southwark is a buzzy, 192-bedroom hotel that’s home to a low-key neighbourhood dining spot and a separate rooftop restaurant. Choose from five bedroom sizes with the smallest, Shoebox, offering a king-size bed and wall-to-wall windows, and the most spacious, Biggy, offering a super king-bed, a lounge area and a large bathroom. No matter what the size, you can expect mid-century furniture with vintage touches – pale-green panelled walls, red velvet headboards, dial-up telephones, cream Roberts radios and brass light switches to name a few. Those who want to wallow over a long soak will be disappointed (there are no baths) but spacious rainfall showers feel luxurious, with teal tiles and marble. Albie – the downstairs restaurant, bar and lounge – serves Italian and French-influenced plates, with on-trend terrazzo tables, wicker chairs and flickering tealights matching the Mediterranean design vibe. Take a seat at the marble bar, or sink into a velvet armchair, for a pre-dinner drink. The extensive cocktail menu features Hox classics, imaginatively named tipples with a twist, plus an impressive selection of no-alcohol brews, wines and spirits<. When it comes to food, the squidgy focaccia is a must-order, with a choice of French or Italian olive oil (we go for the former, and it’s got rich, grassy notes and a lusciously thick texture). Over half the menu is veggie; think goats cheese-stuffed courgette flower and burrata with slices of juicy white peach. Mains are on the lighter, so it’s worth opting for one of the heartier plates, such as creamy crab linguine, if you’re very hungry. Desserts steal the show; crème brûlée spiked with fragrant lavender and a tower of crisp, cocoa-dusted mille-feuille sandwiched with praline cream and hazelnuts – think posh Kinder Bueno. For more decadent dining, ride the lift up to Seabird, the hotel’s striking rooftop restaurant, to try something from London’s longest oyster list, or other fresh seafood dishes, against a backdrop of panoramic city views. In the morning, wake up to a light breakfast bag filled with fruit, a granola bar and a zesty juice shot (ginger, lemon, turmeric and apple on our visit), or head downstairs if you want something more substantial. Greenwich-based Paul Rhodes Bakery makes the hotel’s must-try pastries, from flaky pain au chocolat to almond swirls filled with lemony-marzipan, or order wedges of fluffy cinnamon-spiced brioche French toast. Where to eat and drink nearby The thoughtful in-room map and area guide gives guests a top 10 list of things to do south of the river. Among them a trip to the Bermondsey Beer Mile for craft breweries, Borough Market for top-notch food traders and The Blackfriar if you’re in search of a local boozer. Check out our guide to eating in London Bridge for more suggestions. From £189, check availability at booking.com Treehouse London – for a sustainable hotel with skyline views Doubles from £457, check availability at booking.com Treehouse London is a fun – and sustainable – central London hotel with skyline views and child-friendly touches. Treehouse Hotels was founded on the playfulness and sense of adventure that inspire children to want to build treehouses, so it's little surprise that bedrooms here come with handmade, child-friendly details (think sloth teddy bears on the beds and coloured anoraks hanging in wardrobes). Depending on your budget (and need for space) there will almost certainly be a bedroom that suits, from the Lookout Twin, with views of The Shard, to the Skyline King, which overlooks the London Eye. Each room comes with rain showers, digital newspapers and bedside USB outlets. Not to mention cosy window nooks where you can rest and read. Decor is pared-back, with grey walls, white linen and exposed lightbulbs for reading lights, while the hotel's sleek bathrooms bring a touch of nature to proceedings with pot plants and tree stems. There are three restaurants to choose between: Madera serving Mexican cuisine, Pizzeria Mozza (a UK outpost of the famous LA restaurant from Nancy Silverton) and The Nest for rooftop drinks. Madera (from the Los Angeles-based restaurant group) offers a modern, farm-to-table approach, with dishes (many of which are veggie or vegan) ranging from tequila tofu marinated in pesto to wild mushroom enchiladas and a street-food taco box with five house-made corn tortillas (beef or wild mushroom) served with salsa, lime, coriander and onion. Cocktails make the most of locally produced spirits (Chase gin) as well as more unusual flavours (activated charcoal agave and matcha agave) to create an intriguing drinks list. Return to Madera in the morning for a Mexican-inspired breakfast feast. Start with carne asda and eggs or go for something sweet with decadent Mexican fiesta waffles topped with ice cream, dulce de leche and chocolate. Where to eat and drink nearby Join the queue at Sabor for camarones fritos (tiny shrimp, deep-fried and served with a crispy, paprika-dusted fried egg), or tuck into top-notch carbonara, peppery cacio e pepe and homemade cannoli at Al Dente. Find more places to eat and drink near Oxford Street here. Doubles from £457, check availability at booking.com The Buxton, Shoreditch – for a Brick Lane boozer Doubles from £100, check availability at booking.com The Buxton is a former Brick Lane boozer turned polished pub-with-rooms, reimagined by the team behind Commercial Street’s The Culpeper. Bedrooms are on the small side, which is one reason for their affordable pricing. Clever design and attention to detail, however, ensures they don’t feel cramped. High ceilings and original features add space and character while whitewashed walls and smart navy accents lend a fresh and contemporary feel. The heart of the action occurs in the slickly refurbished Victorian pub, on the ground floor (there are bedrooms and a roof terrace above) which is now a reimagined bistro and wine bar. Tall, graceful arched windows introduce plenty of light, while a sweeping rosso levanto marble counter acts as a stylish focal point. Food has an emphasis on prime produce (including from The Culpeper Family Group’s own urban farm in Deptford) and seasonality, and will change weekly to use the best of what's available. Simple dishes combine British produce with French and Mediterranean influences, to build a carefully curated selection of small plates to share. Our spring visit included creamy shredded duck on toast, asparagus in a decadent brown butter sauce, and Denver steak with sticky, umami-rich glazed hen of the wood mushrooms. Don't miss the cheese croquettes to start: crisp on the inside and melting within. Head downstairs for breakfast after a night in the bar and you’ll find the space transformed, and surprisingly serene. Order the granola with house preserve or fill up with a hearty full English. Where to eat and drink nearby On bohemian Brick Lane, you’ll find no shortage of places to eat and drink; try the street’s many curry houses, 24-hour bagel shops (salt beef is a must) plus nearby restaurants such as Lahpet, Smokestak and Sichuan Folk. Good local bars include The Cocktail Trading Co. and Apples & Pears. Doubles from £100, check availability at booking.com The Pilgrm, Paddington – for a chic central stopover From £119 per night, check availability at booking.com A quirky, design-led, 73-bedroom hotel that’s brought a fine Victorian building in London’s Paddington back to life. Rooms are small so book the largest you can afford, and if you’re a light sleeper, ask for one away from the road. There are tiny (but very comfortable) bunk rooms, if you’re on a budget, or on a one-parent, one-child getaway. Decor is pared back and stylish, with slate-coloured walls contrasting with white sash windows and Egyptian linen-clad beds, and floors of reclaimed 200-year-old parquet giving a warm homely feel. Breakfast is the thing here, kicking off at 7am and continuing until 3pm in the vintage-chic first-floor lounge. There’s full-cooked Pilgrm (with house-baked beans) or a vegan version of smashed avocado, butternut squash hummus and a knock-out beetroot falafel. But the top seller is smashed avocado on toast with crumbled feta, which comes with the unexpected addition of a tomato and olive salsa. Where to eat and drink nearby Being in the heart of London, you’ve plenty of dinner choices nearby – from the cheap-and-cheerful Paramount Lebanese Kitchen, next door, to the Cleveland Arms around the corner, and Basque-styled Lurra and Donostia a short walk away. Read our guide to Paddington restaurants here From £119 per night, check availability at booking.com The Zetter Hotel, Clerkenwell – for panoramic city views From £256 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Victorian warehouse turned hip boutique hotel in Clerkenwell, The Zetter has 59 retro-styled rooms. Rooms have a sleek mid-century vibe, and an attention to detail that elevates the guest experience, from plush UK-made REN toiletries in the bathroom to a well-stocked honesty tray of food and drink, and a mini library of Penguin paperbacks. We suggest choosing one of the hotel’s seven rooftop bedrooms, each of which comes with a private terrace and panoramic views of the city. We stayed in one of the spacious and light-filled rooftop deluxe studios, which have funky geometric interiors, sweeping floor-to-ceiling windows and a freestanding rolltop bath on the terrace. Those into their drinks will also love the locally sourced minibar, which on our visit had bottles of East London Liquor Company rum, gin and vodka, Redchurch beer and JARR kombucha – all made in east London. Make yourself at home in the Lounge for cocktails and small plates – a cosy foodie bolthole to spend an evening. Where to eat and drink nearby It’s a 10-minute walk to Moro in Exmouth Market, for North African and Spanish-influenced tapas. From £256 per night, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com Four Seasons Park Lane, London – for a central London spa experience Doubles from £977, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk Four Seasons Park Lane is a short walk from Hyde Park, the theatre district and a wealth of London attractions, but is situated on a serene street away from the hustle of the city. The hotel feels luxurious from the moment you’re ushered into the dramatic lobby, but the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious. You’ll find sleek rooms with plush beds, decadent marbled bathrooms and plenty of added little luxuries from room sprays to a pillow menu, they take sleep very seriously here. Dining at the hotel’s Pavylon restaurant is an all-round immersive experience, request a counter seat and the theatre you’ll spectate will rival any of the West End shows. Headed up by multi Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, it took him less than a year to win a star for Pavyllon. Them menu focuses on French classics using the finest British ingredients, each dish is presented like a work of art but the balance of flavours is where the real power in his dishes is held. You can expect plates like monkfish tail seared with black pepper oil, succulent Lake District lamb cutlets and flambéed cherries with almond ice cream. Breakfast is served a la carte and includes British and French classics, the Parisian omelette with ham, Comté cheese sauce and parsley is perfection, you’ll find plenty of freshly squeezed juices, pastries and exceptionally good coffee on the menu too. Situated at the very top of the hotel (you’ll find dramatic city views from the changing rooms and gym), the sleek spa is home to a salt-wall sauna, eucalyptus steam room and huge vitality pool which is difficult to tear yourself away from. The treatment menu offers everything from personalised facials to immersive sound bath healing. Where to eat and drink nearby You're spoilt for choice with this location being a short walk from Oxford Street, Soho or Victoria in any direction. Visit Sketch for a memorable afternoon tea or enjoy quietly luxurious special occasion dining at Cornus in Eccleston Place. Doubles from £977, check availability at booking.com or expedia.co.uk The Coach, Clerkenwell – for a Sunday roast and sleepover Doubles from £120, check rates and availability at booking.com Chef-restaurateur Henry Harris has transformed this popular independent pub in Clerkenwell into a well-executed French restaurant-with-rooms. Hidden down a quiet street in the heart of Clerkenwell, The Coach has been refurbished with the addition of four small, boutique-style rooms. The lively pub is child-friendly and serves a variety of beers, lagers and wines from local breweries as well as a selection of cocktails. For our aperitif we opted for a strong, citrussy negroni followed by a full-bodied, fruity red Château Laussac Cuvée La Dame. Visit on a Sunday for the classic Sunday roast – succulent 48-day aged Hereford sirloin of beef with punchy horseradish came with crispy duck-fat potatoes, sweet baby carrots and plenty of crunchy greens. Finish with a super-light blood orange posset with delicate lemon shortbreads and a verrine made with sought-after Gariguette strawberries, silky smooth crème pâtissière and chantilly cream. Upstairs, plenty of light floods into the compact rooms through double sash windows, framed by funky grey and yellow blinds. Modern art features on whitewashed walls and boutique hotel luxuries add a welcoming touch (Roberts radio, chrome light shades and Bramley hand soap). The bathrooms evoke the design of an old-school coach, while little white tiles add a retro twenties stamp. The bright, art-filled breakfast room overlooks a small terrace alive with greenery. Choose from a small menu – try bowls full to the brim with crunchy coconut and pecan granola or indulge in the full Coach breakfast of thick-cut bacon, crispy fried eggs, buttery mogettes (beans) and sourdough from Bread Ahead bakery. Where to eat and drink nearby Exmouth Market is on your doorstep, where you’ll find an array of independent shops, bars and restaurants, including Pizza Pilgrims, Morito and Berber & Q. Doubles from £120, check rates and availability at booking.com Bingham Riverhouse - for riverside views and chic interiors Perched along the Thames, this boutique bolthole is a dream for food lovers seeking a tranquil retreat with a touch of history. Housed in a chic Georgian townhouse with a fascinating literary past, the hotel is home to a sun-dappled terrace overlooking the stunning gardens and River Thames – as well as luxurious drawing room with a roaring fire place, perfect for afternoon tea or an expertly mixed cocktail. Breakfast is served in a cozy library lined with rows of vintage Penguin paperbacks, and includes a generous buffet as well as a menu with all of the classics. Beyond the hotel’s indulgent offerings, its location provides easy access to some of London’s most scenic attractions. A short stroll brings you to the vast greenery of Richmond Park, where wild deer roam freely, while the riverside towpath is ideal for leisurely walks or a sunset jog. After a day exploring local markets and gastropubs, unwind in one of the 14 beautifully designed rooms, each named after a poem by Michael Field. Expect mid-century elegance with thoughtful touches like Hebridean wool throws and artisan crystals. Opt for a river-facing room to enjoy stunning Thames views, along with a statement Catchpole & Rye copper bathtub—perfect for a post-dinner soak. Where to eat and drink nearby You are just a short walk along the river away from Petersham Nurseries cafe and restaurant. Rooms from £190 per night, check availability at binghamriverhouse.com or <a href="https://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-100565798-11795693?sid=olivemagazine-226739&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booking.com%2Fhotel%2Fgb%2Fthe-bingham.en-us.html%3Faid%3D811995%26label%3Daffnetcj-11795693_pub-5306979_site-100565798_pname-Immediate%2520Media_clkid-olivemagazine-147252_cjevent-28ed6645bb9211ee812000d80a18b8f8%26sid%3D1445e016f12e209a9562b523f90d2e21%26dist%3D0%26keep_landing%3D1%26sb_price_type%3Dtotal%26type%3Dtotal%26utm_campaign%3Dgb%26utm_medium%3Dbannerindex%26utm_source%3Daffnetcj%26utm_term%3Dindex-11795693%26" target="_blank" rel="noopener sponsored">booking.com The Beaumont Hotel, Mayfair – for old school opulence Doubles from £648, check availability at thebeaumont.com or booking.com Old school opulence and faultless hospitality are the name of the game at The Beaumont. The polished walnut panelling, shiny marble floors and gilded edges set the scene as you walk into the Art Deco-style lobby. Suites are just as plush, with luxurious touches and 5-star attention to detail: Beaumont-stamped chocolate, sweets and snack jars all waited in our room, while sustainable toiletries were by heritage London perfumer D.R Harris. Rooms and suites are stylish, ultra-comfy and peaceful, cocooned from the busy Central London streets below. There’s even a room designed by artist Antony Gormley. The hotel’s Colony Grill is an elevated take on an NYC steakhouse, serving classics done with serious panache. Everything on the menu is that little bit extra: the tame-sounding shrimp cocktail arrives as grand whole prawns fanning from a stemmed bowl; the steak is salt-aged in-house and served with whipped bearnaise; you can build-your-own sundae using a fun tick sheet (we added a chestnut and rosemary ice cream to ours). Breakfast is served in The Colony Grill and is just as chic as dinner. We ate smoked salmon, scrambled egg and brioche with house-pressed pomegranate juice, but the made-to-order menu is huge and includes signature hashes, cold breakfasts, pancakes, French toast and eggs served every which way you can imagine. The Viennoiserie table included almond croissants, cinnamon rolls and pain au chocolat, all made in the Beaumont bakery. Service is impeccable. The peaceful basement spa at the Beaumont has a really fun USP – its range of hammam treatments. We experienced the Signature Hammam which involved an invigorating exfoliation using black olive savon noir scrub and an enriching rose & geranium clay. You can follow up with a massage treatment, or enjoy the facilities which include two steam rooms and one of London’s only cold water plunge pools. Where to eat and drink nearby If you can bring yourself to leave the Beaumont cocoon, the hustle and bustle of Mayfair and Oxford Street await. Tamarind Terrace offers all-weather Indian dining (don't miss the lamb chops with pistachio crust), or try Akira Back for playful riffs on Japanese cuisine. Doubles from £648, check availability at thebeaumont.com or booking.com The Boundary, Shoreditch – for a foodie weekend in Shoreditch Doubles from £173 per night, check availability at booking.com A trendy hotel, Boundary has 17 individually-designed bedrooms, a rooftop bar and an all-day bar and brasserie. Each bedroom is truly unique, taking inspiration from a particular designer or design movement. Take your pick from Mies van der Rohe, Charles & Ray Eames, Andrée Putman or Eileen Gray. Most share a restful, simple colour palette and a restrained but very carefully curated collection of furniture. The Sir David Tang Suite is an exception with its Chinese silk wallpaper and tassled green silk lampshades. Regardless of which room you stay in, a mid-afternoon delivery of freshly baked brownie is guaranteed. Dodge busy Shoreditch streets at the sky-high rooftop bar, where the view of London is uninterrupted and the cocktails are excellent. Try the Serendipity – a concoction of Monkey Shoulder whisky, Drambuie, mango purée, lime and chilli – and share plates of garlic tiger prawns and grilled lobster. Breakfast has a grown-up vibe but an on-trend menu, stretching to cold-pressed juices and ‘healthy’ cooked breakfasts. Baked goods are where it’s at, though, with a choice of cinnamon – or pistachio and white chocolate – swirls, croissants and Danish pastries. Where to eat and drink nearby BRAT, just a minutes’ walk away, is a Spanish-inspired spot that serves grilled sharing platters. Click here for more places to eat in Shoreditch. Doubles from £173 per night, check availability at booking.com Pan Pacific London, London – for an oasis of calm Doubles from £395 including spa access, check availability at panpacificlondon.com or booking.com Pan Pacific might be moments away from the bustling streets of Brick Lane and Spitalfields Market, but inside it’s an oasis of calm. The hotel’s ethos is to bring a slice of the Singapore experience to London, and you’ll find that influence in everything from the Kopi Tiam afternoon tea to the vibrant hotel bar Ginger Lily, where the attentive staff will mix you up a signature Singaporean classic or a contemporary creation, depending on your own unique tastes. Breakfast is served in Straits Kitchen and you'll find an opulent buffet with a choice of Asian and English classics, from freshly made omelette to beautifully fragrant Won Ton noodle soups. All rooms feature king size beds, expansive marble bathrooms and luxury bathroom products, but the views across the city are what make this hotel standout, you can admire the glittering lights and striking contrast of old and new architecture from the comfort of your very own bed, it might be hard to leave. A night at Pan Pacific includes full use of the wellbeing floor. Start your morning with a luxurious swim in the balmy and impressively large infinity pool, floor to ceiling windows offer you far-reaching views over Bishopsgate Plaza as you practice your front crawl. There are plenty of sun loungers to recline on in the light-flooded relaxation area and a mindfulness studio where you’ll find yoga classes, meditation, pilates and gong therapy. The bougie experience continues in the changing rooms with Diptyque products and a smart sauna and steam room for the ultimate heat experience. There are a range of treatments on offer from a rhythmical bamboo massage to a lymphatic drainage massage. Where to eat and drink nearby Walk to Spitalfields Market for your choice of street food, or book a table at Kolamba East for modern Sri Lankan sharing dishes – the prawn string hopper biryani is worth a visit alone. Doubles from £395 including spa access, check availability at panpacificlondon.com or booking.com Kettner’s Townhouse, Soho – for the Champagne lifestyle Check rates and availability at sohohouse.com or mrandmrssmith.com Playing on its 1920s heyday, this Georgian building (brought up-to-date by the Soho House Group) is home to an all-day French brasserie, Champagne bar and 33 glamorous hotel rooms. Rooms vary dramatically in size. Compact Tiny rooms are fitted with Tudor-style beds and slick en-suites, while Cosy rooms are a bit larger with pretty green velvet scalloped headboards. If you want to wallow in a freestanding bath tub and super king-size bed, book one of the Medium or Big rooms (they have double sinks and walk-in rainforest showers, too). All rooms, no matter what size, cater to every whim, making for a luxurious stay. An almost overwhelming array of Cowshed bath and shower products await in the rainforest showers (cleansing toner and lip balm, as well as the usual staples). The all-day menu served in the brasserie sticks to classic French comfort food (steak tartare, roast chicken and Toulouse sausage). Try perfectly pink fillet of Lake District beef with fluffy chips and a creamy pepper sauce; or head to the Champagne bar for its take on a French 75, The Romilly, made from exotic Star of Bombay gin, mango cordial and sparkling Ruinart. The Kettner’s Fizz – refreshing clementine and grapefruit juice laced with Grand Marnier and Runiart rosé – is also a good shout. For breakfast, opt for a glass of fizz and a decadent lobster royale with hollandaise and Exmoor caviar in the Champagne bar, or keep it classic in the brasserie: blueberry muffins, or citrusy pink grapefruit served with thick sheep’s milk yogurt and a sprinkling of bee pollen and micro mint. Soho House has zingy breakfast drinks sorted, with its own pre-bottled house press juices. Where to eat and drink nearby Head to Yasmin on Warwick Street for rooftop dining with Middle Eastern flavour. Inspired by a stint in Istanbul, the menu majors on superior dips, flatbreads and zingy salads and grills. Read more about where to eat in Soho here. Check rates and availability at sohohouse.com or mrandmrssmith.com The Hoxton, High Holborn – for a hip hangout Doubles from £179 per night, check availability at booking.com The Hoxton is a cool, open-house hotel with 174 bedrooms, designed by local illustrators. Choose between four sizes, starting with Shoebox (the clue’s in the name), then Snug, Cosy and, the largest of the four, Roomy. Compact shoebox rooms still have queen-size beds and walk-in showers, while roomy ones are home to king-size beds and squidgy leather armchairs. With the exception of Shoebox, all are dog-friendly. If you fancy wine or beer in your room, head to the front desk where you can buy bottles at supermarket prices. A light breakfast bag can be delivered to your door, but for something more substantial head to Rondo for ’nduja scrambled eggs, or a Full English, served with Tamworth sausage & bacon, Fenton eggs, black pudding & beans. There are cold-pressed green juices to wake you up, or a selection of 100% vegan coffees, including matcha and raw cacao lattes. Where to eat and drink nearby A pie at the Holborn Dining Room is a must, whether it be filled with chicken, girolle and tarragon, or mutton curry. Try the contemporary afternoon tea at Rosewood’s Mirror Room, too. Doubles from £179 per night, check availability at booking.com Ham Yard Hotel, Soho – for a hidden design gem From £606 per night, check availability at booking.com An urban village, Ham Yard Hotel is home to 91 individually designed bedrooms and suites, 24 apartments, 13 independent stores and a restaurant. Kit Kemp designed the quintessentially British interiors, so that means colourful, patterned textiles and original artwork. Superior rooms have queen-size beds and a separate sitting area with writing desk, while the two-bedroom terrace suite on the hotel’s top floor has a kitchen. All bedrooms have views of the leafy terrace or city skyline. With its super central Soho location, there’s no shortage of restaurant, bars and cafés to explore in the area. But the hotel itself has its own restaurant and serves a selection of afternoon teas, including a ‘healthy’ reduced sugar option. A roof garden is home to raised herb and vegetable beds, so expect to see purple sage and orange marigold featuring on the menu. Two bee hives also live on the roof, the honey from which is used in cocktails. At breakfast, Antipodean-style eats and smoothies feature alongside lighter bites, including coconut chia seed pots with mango. Porridge is prepared with your choice of milk, water or cream, and is topped with berries, banana, mango, sugar, seeds or maple syrup. Where to eat and drink nearby Pop across the road to KILN for regional Thai dishes. Try aged lamb skewers, delicately fragrant with cumin and Szechuan pepper; or clay-pot baked glass noodles with Tamworth pork belly and brown crabmeat. Here are more places to eat and drink in Soho. From £606 per night, check availability at booking.com The Culpeper, Spitalfields – for campfires on the roof Doubles from £160 per night, check availability at booking.com The Culpeper is an east London pub with five bedrooms, a restaurant and rooftop garden. The ground floor pub takes classics up a notch: deep-fried black pudding balls, crispy ox tongue with tarragon mayo, and chicken liver on toast. The wine list is completely natural, local beers feature strongly, and all the cocktails are based on herbs that grow on the roof. The rooftop has a changing residency each summer, but in the past Piculpeper has set up camp with fire pits serving grilled broccoli, ash-roast potatoes and slow-roast camembert. On the first floor, a restaurant offers three starters, three mains and three desserts that change weekly. It also makes use of what’s grown in and around The Culpeper, including nettles, sprouting kale, baby gem lettuce and swiss chard on its menu. On the second floor, five bedrooms are in keeping with the rest of the pub, so expect plastered walls, bare brickwork, original fireplaces and simple-yet-colourful textiles. Where to eat and drink nearby Som Saa is less than a minute away, so head there for sticky Burmese-style curry, whole deep-fried sea bass and palm sugar ice cream. Doubles from £160 per night, check availability at booking.com The Orange, Belgravia – for a cosy pub with rooms Rooms start at £260 a night, check availability at booking.com or cubitthouse.co.uk If you want to stay in the beating heart of London, you won’t get much more central than buzzy Belgravia, and this refurbished pub is a chic base. The 19th century local is part of the Cubitts House group, who have given this glorious period building a whole new charm. The uber-stylish interiors have flashes of orange throughout, and the contemporary Italian-inspired menu is curated by Ben Tish. The Orange has just four rooms, giving it an extra-personal feel. They are decked in natural materials and finished with botanical flourishes. Downstairs in the bar, guests can soak up the buzz and order dinner off The Orange’s seasonal, à la carte menu. You’ll find a list of delicious-sounding pizzas with inventive toppings, like red prawns, rose harissa & crispy garlic. There’s a strong list of hearty, seasonal salads, which included braised kale and fried aubergine. Starters included panisse with bottarga. There are large plates too, including rib-eye with roasted onions & comte and roast chicken with grapes and rosemary. Guests enjoy breakfast as part of their stay, and while we loved the house granola with new season rhubarb, where The Orange really plays an ace is with their breakfast wood-fired flatbreads. Choose from toppings like fennel sausage & roasted tomatoes, stracciatella, mushroom & truffle cheese sauce. We already rated The Orange, but we have extra respect for anywhere that serves pizza before 10am. Where to eat and drink nearby For more dinner options, try Wildflowers. A stylish restaurant and wine bar, Mediterranean-inspired dishes are cooked over coal in an open kitchen, cocktails are imaginative twists on classics (try a melon negroni or almost-dirty martini) and its understated design encourages you to relax and linger over your food. Rooms start at £260 a night, check availability at booking.com or cubitthouse.co.uk Vintry and Mercer, City of London – for luxury in the City From £284 per night, check availability at booking.com One of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Vintry and Mercer is a 92-bedroom luxury hotel with a roof terrace restaurant, speakeasy-style bar and an all-day kitchen serving Asian plates. Rooms comes with elaborate velvet headboards and dramatically tiled bathrooms. The 'standard' room is anything but, with a queen-size bed, walk-in shower and heated floor, while the deluxe comes with a king-size bed, turndown service and wet room. Every bedroom nods to its city location, be it through needle-and-thread wallpaper that references the mercers who used to import fine silks just a stone’s throw from where the hotel now stands, or antique-style maps that depict old trade routes. Foodies stay here both for the delightful roof terrace restaurant, which focuses on farm-to-plate food cooked over charcoal; and DND (Do Not Disturb), a fun bar that pairs barrel-aged cocktails with sliders. There’s also Vintry Izakaya, which serves tapas-style dishes including tempura shiitake and tomato miso steamed buns. Along with the usual spirits, there’s also a selection of sakes and Asian-influences cocktails. Try the Takhiriti, made with Don Q rum, lemongrass syrup, kaffir lime and Thai basil. Where to eat and drink nearby Wander up to Brigadiers for an Indian feast of BBQ butter chicken wings, sikandari kid goat shoulder and on-tap cocktails. Read our full review here. From £284 per night, check availability at booking.com Green Rooms, Wood Green – for great-value rooms From £82 per night, check availability at booking.com A no-frills affordable hotel, Green Rooms has stylishly simple bedrooms. There are 22 bedrooms (everything from three-quarter to king-size beds, some with shared bathrooms, others en-suite), two en-suite studio apartments and two dormitories (one sleeps 12, one sleeps 16 people) make for an eclectic mix of accommodation. It’s a back-to-basics vibe, but with added style. Mattresses are good quality, furnishings are sparse but pretty (a few rooms have chairs and textiles by fashion brand Folk, but most have simple white bed linen and vintage wooden furniture), and frills extend only to a few coat hangers, a travel kettle, a small range of London Tea Company teas and Climpson and Sons coffee. Where to eat and drink nearby In Turkish-influenced Wood Green, you don’t have to go more than 30 paces to find grilled halloumi and spinach omelettes. Try Antepliler for pides, spiced lentil koftes and pistachio kanafeh. From £82 per night, check availability at booking.com Kaya Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross – for swanky fine dining From £215 per night, check availability at booking.com A luxury, boutique hotel just 25 metres from King’s Cross station, comfort and class is the focus at Kaya Great Northern Hotel, with each bedroom sporting sash windows and high ceilings. Couchette is the cosiest, with queen-size beds tucked into leather-clad banquettes, while the Edwardian bedrooms on the top floor have walnut wood panelling and vintage-style bathrooms. Victorian is the largest, with views of King’s Cross and a roll top bath. On the first floor, RAILS Restaurant and Little Bar offers a smart take on British and French classics. Where to eat and drink nearby There’s no shortage of options in Coal Drops Yard, including wine bars and funky sandwich joints. Try smoky rotisserie chicken and mezcal negronis at alfresco Mexican restaurant, Plaza Pastor. See our picks of the best restaurants in Kings Cross here. From £215 per night, check availability at booking.com The London Edition, West End – for striking interiors From £420 per night, check availability at booking.com A slick hotel in the heart of Fitzrovia with 173 bedrooms and a sophisticated restaurant, Berners Tavern. The in-house restaurant is under the direction of Michelin-starred chef, Jason Atherton. A striking dining room (ornate ceilings, plush leather booths and antique artwork in lavish gold frames) sets a grand tone, while the trendy-yet-accessible food is the kind you could eat every day: pork pie and aged beef tartare, BBQ pork chops, and mac ‘n’ cheese. Try a roast at the weekend, including beef wellington and Dingley Dell pork belly. There are two bars to choose from: The Lobby comes kitted out with a snooker table and tufted sofas, while The Punch Room is an intimate space inspired by 19th-century private clubs. The signature gin-infused EDITION house punch is a must. Stylish and simple rooms are inspired by luxury yachts with oak floors, walnut wooden panels and tufted armchairs. There are four bedroom sizes (guest, superior, deluxe and loft) as well as two suites, the loft and the penthouse. All bedrooms come with the same features (king-size beds, rainforest showers, iPod docking stations and custom made Le Labo bathroom products). Suites come with a large living area, while the penthouse has a dining area, pantry, walk-in wardrobe and three outdoor terraces with city views. At breakfast, hearty classics are the order of the day, be it a slow-cooked smoked ham hock croque monsieur with aged cheddar, or oak smoked Scottish salmon with scrambled eggs. If you’re after something lighter, dairy-free mango smoothies and ginger, turmeric and orange shots are also on offer. Where to eat and drink nearby Book a table at Rovi, Ottolenghi’s restaurant with vegetables, fermentation and fire at its heart. Read all the best restaurants in Fitzrovia here. From £420 per night, check availability at booking.com The Athenaeum, Mayfair – for a luxurious Mayfair stay From £366 per night, check availability at booking.com The Athenaeum is a luxury yet family-friendly Mayfair hotel with bedrooms, suites, apartments and townhouses. Spacious bedrooms include Hypnos mattresses, London-inspired artwork and your choice of pillow. Marble bathrooms come with heated towel rails and non-steam mirrors. Serviced apartments are ideal for those with children, with separate front doors leading onto a double bedroom (with extra bunk or sofa beds for little ones), living area and fully fitted kitchenette. If you want to stay in the main hotel, interconnecting bedrooms are also available. Choose between a continental buffet for breakfast (yogurt, fruit, charcuterie, cheese and baked goods) or opt for a full English, omelettes or smoked salmon. There’s a separate menu for children, including waffles with fruit compote or boiled eggs with toast soldiers. Where to eat and drink nearby Mayfair has plenty of excellent dining choices to offer: from contemporary steak and sushi at Nijū to pub classics at The Guinea Grill or elegant Italian at Angela Hartnett's Murano. For more dining in the area, check out our favourite places to eat in Mayfair here. From £366 per night, check availability at booking.com The Bull and The Hide, Bishopsgate – for cosy pub vibes From £155 per night, check availability at booking.com A pub with 10 boutique bedrooms in the heart of the city. Rooms are neat and simply decorated. Each is named after the pub’s colourful past, from the Oxford (the 17th Earl of Oxford lived on the site in the 16th century) to the Devonshire suite, which echoes the name of a grand house that stood on the site in 1625. If you want a room with a view, book the Hush Heath suite for its own private balcony. All come equipped with Miller Harris toiletries, goose down pillows and a 24-hour pantry, where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, cookies and sweets. The Bull pub downstairs (part of the Hush Heath Estate) serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, bar snacks and dinner. Classics include scotch eggs with curried mayo, half-pint shrimps and whitebait with tartare sauce. Flatbreads are also a focus, so try the pulled pork, BBQ sauce and jalapeño one. The sparkling wines come from the Hush Heath Estate in Kent, and the crisp sparkling apple is recommended. The Bull breakfast is a simple affair. Choose a full English, American pancakes with bacon, avocado on toast or granola. Where to eat and drink nearby If you're not eating in the pub, head to Duck & Waffle for views over the city or Spitalfields Market for plenty of street food options, from freshly pulled noodles to the gooiest cheese toasties. From £155 per night, check availability at booking.com Claridge’s, Mayfair – for classic elegance From £930 per night, check availability at booking.com The iconic Claridge's is a glamorous art deco Mayfair hotel with restaurants, bars and a reading room. Bedrooms and suites are either traditional or art deco, but both come with Bose speakers, fresh flowers and mini bars stocked with British produce. En-suite marble bathrooms include Cowshed products (made exclusively for Claridge’s), and the Claridge’s King room comes with floor-to-ceiling mirrors and views of the peaceful inner court. The Mayfair Suite has a separate sitting room with original fireplace, and the Brook Penthouse, a two-bedroom apartment with living room, dining area, private bar and a terrace with views of the Houses of Parliament, is luxury at its finest. For foodies, the Foyer and Reading Room serve an all-day dining menu, from roast rack of Kent lamb to its signature lobster wellington. Afternoon tea has been a ritual here for almost 150 years, and this luxurious redoubt for the rich and royal (no flip-flops, no intrusive photography) has turned it into an art form. Eat English cucumber and dill cream sandwiches, fluffy raisin scones with Cornish clotted cream, and caramelised hazelnut Paris-Brest. Breakfast is a lavish affair. There’s English, European, Japanese, vegan and Middle Eastern options, to name a few. Try pork gyoza, prawn dim sum, chicken congee, Chinese pickles and century duck egg for a Chinese feast, or keep it healthy with chia seed pudding and carrot juice. The Claridge’s bakery makes daily Danish pastries, croissants, muffins and brioche, and pancakes are served with berries and Valrhona chocolate. Where to eat and drink nearby Wander down Regent Street for a Spanish feast at Sabor. Eat crisp, golden prawn croquettes and mussels ‘a la Bilbaina’. Read more about Sabor here From £930 per night, check availability at booking.com The Ritz, Piccadilly – for old-school luxury Doubles from £900 per night, check availability at booking.com The Ritz offers old-school luxury in the heart of Piccadilly, with a restaurant to match. Opulent yet traditional, there’s a twee feel to the bedrooms with plenty of floral patterns and pastel furnishings. Living areas come with antique furniture, and en-suite bathrooms are adorned with marble. Deluxe suites come with up to five bedrooms and spacious sitting rooms, but, if it’s views you’re after, book the Green Park Suite, which looks out over its namesake. Afternoon tea is the main draw, taken in the elegant Palm Court. Indulge in Scottish smoked salmon on springy sourdough bread, warm scones and delicate blackcurrant macarons. Choose from an 18-strong tea menu that has been curated and exclusively blended by The Ritz’s tea sommelier, Giandomenico Scanu. The Michelin-starred restaurant cooks seasonal British produce. Try Dover sole with new season leeks, cauliflower and caviar, or native lobster with heritage carrot and lemon verbena. Don’t leave without trying the crêpes suzette, prepared, cooked and served at your table with real flair. For breakfast, whether you fancy sirloin steak with fried eggs or an omelette with caviar, The Ritz has you covered. A continental breakfast keeps things light with fruit, homemade yogurt, cheese, ham and cereal, while three punchy juices are sure to wake you up. Our favourite is the Ruby Ritz: carrot, beetroot, fennel, ginger and lime. Where to eat and drink nearby World-famous for its seafood and shellfish, Bentley’s is the place to go for oysters. Click here for more places to eat in Mayfair. Doubles from £900 per night, check availability at booking.com Shangri-La At The Shard, London Bridge – for striking views Doubles from £553, check availability at booking.com Shangri-La At The Shard is a central London hotel with 202 bedrooms, striking views and an infinity sky pool. The hotel includes a restaurant, afternoon tea lounge and two bars. On level 35, TING serves a modern British menu with Asian influences, making the most of produce from neighbouring Borough Market. The five-course tasting menu offers the likes of duck liver ballotine with forced rhubarb and green tea, and Eton mess with cardamom. Climb 12 levels higher for GONG bar (the highest hotel bar in Europe) and its quirky cocktails. The cognac and sherry-based Over the Rainbow comes in a decorative hot air balloon, while the Scan Me whisky sour is delivered in a sleek black glass. Every bedroom and suite comes with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame London’s skyline; the iconic City View room, for example, looks out over Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. A pillow menu is available, along with binoculars (to get a closer look at the landmarks), feather duvets, L'Occitane bath products and a Chinese tea set. The suites offer a separate living and working space, with views spanning across Surrey and Sussex, and the Shangri-La suite is the grandest of them all – dressing room, kitchenette, cocktail-making services, an iPad and local area guide included. At breakfast, choose between an English, Middle Eastern or Asian breakfast, the latter of which comes with congee, dim sum and wok fried noodles. Or try something from the wellness menu: bircher muesli and green smoothies packed with kiwi, spinach, ginger, mint and apple juice. Where to eat and drink nearby Pop to the market for plates of pici cacio e pepe and beef shin ragu at Padella. Click here for our London Bridge restaurant guide. Doubles from £553, check availability at booking.com Sea Containers London, Southbank – for a room above the best bar in the world Check rates and availability at booking.com Sea Containers is a modern hotel on the river with bedrooms designed by Tom Dixon and a cocktail bar from master mixologist, Mr Lyan. Choose between bedrooms, suites and apartments. Tones of grey and pops of pink are the signature colours, with chrome furnishings lending a sleek feel. Queen-size beds come as standard in the boutique rooms, and marble bathrooms are stocked with natural Malin + Goetz products. Wall-to-wall windows in the Riverview Deluxe room offer views of the city, while the Riverview Suite includes a separate living area and extra bathroom. The world’s number one bar, Dandelyan used to have its home at Sea Containers, but Mr Lyan closed that down and re-opened it as Lyaness. The sweeping green marble bar occupies the ground floor of the hotel, with soft-grey sofas and electric-blue banquettes. Try the tiki-inspired Double Painkiller, with bright tropical notes and a subtle smokiness. An all-day restaurant serves plates designed to share, from whole seabass with lemon to shaved mushrooms with manchego and brown butter. If you’re there over the weekend, try the eggy sammy from the brunch menu for breakfast – a brioche bun stacked with fried egg, crispy bacon, jack cheese and avocado – or go for a spicy chorizo flatbread with olives and wild rocket. In the week, expect a full English, fruit and yogurt, or avocado on toast. Where to eat and drink nearby Skylon is an 11-minute walk away on the first floor of the Royal Festival Hall. It’s all about seasonal modern British food and great views of the Thames. Check rates and availability at booking.com The Standard, King's Cross Doubles from £199, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com There’s nothing standard about The Standard. Minutes from St Pancras International, London’s rail-based gateway to Europe, the cool kids behind America’s Standard Hotel group opened their first UK outpost, converting a 1970s concrete block into a hip eating and drinking destination, with more than 200 groovy retro-kitsch bedrooms on site. It may be the priciest room (with the exception of the suites), but book a King’s Terrace room and you’ll be rewarded with a large terrace complete with an outdoor bath that overlooks the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel and its terracotta-coloured clock tower. There are no ‘standard’ rooms at The Standard – the most basic options still boast bathrobes, bespoke Davines toiletries and Bang & Olufsen speakers. The building’s geometric shape adds character to outer-ring rooms (internal Cosy Cores don’t have windows, but they do have shower rooms strung with ferns), with squishy sofas in retro colours tucked beneath aquarium-like curved windows. Wallace Sewell, TFL’s fabric designers, have created the bedspreads and carpets, with the nostalgic red, purple and blue palette reminding guests how in-the-thick-of-it they are. Retro-chic design continues in the bathrooms, where pale pink and black tiles cover monsoon shower walls, and mint green taps add a pop of colour. Foodies are well catered for with a selection of options. On the ground floor, Isla’s vibrant space, with floor-to-ceiling glass doors that open onto a plant-filled terrace, is home to light British plates with a generous plant-based section. There's also Sweeties cocktail bar, Decimo for Mexican-Spanish cuisine with dramatic skyline views, or the Double Standard Bar serving American-inspired brunch or burgers and hot dogs in the evening. Make the most of humongous beds and order breakfast delivered to your room. Avocado on toast pepped-up with chimichurri, perhaps, or a batch of brown butter madeleines with Square Mile coffee. Where to eat and drink nearby The Standard is a one-minute walk (if that) from St Pancras International, so it’s well-placed if you want to kick off a trip to Amsterdam, Paris or the south of France in style. Doubles from £199, check availability at booking.com or mrandmrssmith.com More hotel guides Best country house hotels in the UK Best health and wellness retreats Best UK boutique hotels Best hotels in the Cotswolds Best Cornwall hotels Best hotels in the Lake District Best London hotel bars to visit Best romantic hotels in the UK European hidden gems: hotels off the beaten track Best Paris hotels Best Spanish hotels Best Italian hotels Best restaurants with rooms in the UK Best Amsterdam hotels
Best festive afternoon teas in London 2025
Looking for a festive treat? We’ve found the best spots to take friends and family over the Christmas season, from traditional afternoon tea at The Ritz to afternoon tea with a view from The Shard
Treat loved ones and dine in style over the Christmas season with one of these festive afternoon teas for a Christmas treat. Classic afternoon tea menus of sandwiches, scones and perfect patisserie get a festive makeover at this time of year, from turkey sandwiches and cranberry jam to go with scones, to carefully crafted yule logs, Christmas trees made of cake, savoury mince pies and many more magical discoveries. You're sure to leave full and with a wonderful new Christmas tradition to return to year after year. If you're not after a Christmas theme, check out the best afternoon teas in London and the best across the UK, too. Best festive afternoon teas in London 2025 Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill, Marylebone Known for its travel-themed Flavours of the World afternoon teas, this Christmas, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill has fittingly chosen Lapland as its destination inspiration for guests. However rather than just a few festively named desserts, the hotel fully embraces a sense of delightful theatricality, transporting guests on board a ‘Montagu Kitchen Airlines’ flight to Lapland. Upon arriving our hostess immediately donned a pillbox air stewardess hat, stamped our boarding pass ‘in-flight menus’ and escorted us to our seats ready for take-off. Our napkins were tied with a chic leather luggage tag, two of our three courses were gorgeously presented in multiple compartments of a suitcase, and champagne was offered upon lift off. Our in-flight menu boasted an array of spiced treats, including a tangy sweet water shrimp tartelette and, my personal favourite, a rich but light brioche roll topped with forest mushroom duxelles and Witheridge cheese. Following this there was the classic, traditional plain and raisin scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam – it was however given an exotic twist by featuring a zesty passion fruit jam, all suitably located in the side compartments of our luggage. Lastly, the main part of our suitcase opened to reveal a vibrant display of sweet, delicate pastries – all appropriately Christmas themed, from a Santa Belly made of an almond financier, gooseberry compote and vanilla crémeux, to Scandinavian favourite, kaffe rulltårta, everything was beautifully light and rich in flavour. Price: Festive afternoon tea from £59pp Address: 30 Portman Square, London W1H 7BH Book festive afternoon tea at Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill here. Corinthia London, Whitehall Corinthia London will be serving its festive afternoon tea in The Crystal Moon Lounge with a selection of festive treats from 14 November-4 January 2026. Relax in the stylish lobby under the glistening chandelier and listen to grand piano playing in the background while you feast on elevated turkey or honey roasted ham sandwiches, followed by scones with both strawberry and blackcurrant jams. Finish with the patisserie, including a black forest bûche de Noël, gingerbread and mandarin cake and pear and Tahitian vanilla choux, to name just a few of the many treats on this classically luxurious menu. Price: Festive afternoon tea from £95pp Mon-Thurs, £105 Fri-Sun, caviar afternoon tea from £150pp. Address: Whitehall Place, Westminster, London SW1A 2BD Book festive afternoon tea at Corinthia London here. The Ritz, Piccadilly The Ritz will be serving its traditional afternoon tea with a fun festive twist from 15 November-3 January 2026, with five sittings per day. Take in the luxurious surroundings while you feast on six different sandwiches (think classic cheddar and chutney, ham and mustard mayonnaise, traditional smoked salmon sandwiches and more), Christmas-inspired British pastries; and choose from over 20 different teas including a bespoke Ritz Christmas spiced tea. Price: £120pp; £79 per child (up to 15 years old), except for Christmas Day which is priced at £135 per adult and £90 per child Address: 150 Piccadilly, London W1J 9BR Book the Ritz Christmas afternoon tea here. Festive afternoon tea by Lily Vanilli, Four Seasons Tower Bridge For a modern take on a a festive afternoon tea, head to Lily Vanilli at the Four Seasons Hotel London Tower Bridge. The Christmas treat is served in the grand setting of the Rotunda Bar, complete with towering Christmas tree at the centre. There's no finger sandwiches here. Instead, the tea kicks off with a range of unique savouries including parmesan gougères, confit potatoes topped with smoked salmon and roe, and gildas with fiery pickled chilli. Even mince pies get a savoury twist, with buttery pastry holding a hearty cheese, cabbage and potato filling. Classic scones are served with clotted cream and blackberry compote. Make sure you save room for the sweet course, which includes mini lemon meringue tarts, and sticky toffee madeleines served with a generous cup of toffee sauce. The highlight is a grand mini chocolate salted caramel cake served on it's very own cake stand, adorned with gold baubles and decorated in Lily Vanilli’s signature style with rich, buttery icing. If you can’t slice into it there and then, the team will box it up for you to take home and savour later. Price: £65 per person Address: Four Seasons Hotel London Tower Bridge, 10 Trinity Square, London, EC3N 4AJ Book the Four Seasons Tower Bridge tea here. oblix at The Shard Nothing starts off a festive afternoon tea like walking through a corridor lined floor to ceiling with sparkling fairy lights. Oblix, on the 32nd floor of The Shard, more than delivers that Christmas feeling. If you can tear your eyes away from panoramic views of London including Tower Bridge, the City and the Walkie Talkie building, then the Oblix tea has been given a Christmas makeover until the 4th January. Start with a plate of sandwiches including coronation chicken, egg mayo with generous amounts of truffle and classic smoked salmon. Cranberry scones are served with raspberry and orange preserve and clotted cream, whilst patisserie includes a Christmas tree carrot cake, festive chocolate bauble and snowflake mont blanc. Price: from £69pp Address: oblix East, Level 32, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY Book the oblix festive afternoon tea here. The Savoy, The Strand The festive afternoon tea at The Savoy is available now. You can expect classic sandwiches with a Christmas twist, such as oak-smoked cheddar with plum and ginger chutney, coronation turkey on cranberry bread, and a savoury parsnip and carrot cake. Traditional freshly baked plain and raisin scones come with strawberry jam, lemon curd and clotted cream to accompany festive spiced teas. To finish, enjoy a cluster of seasonal cakes and pastries such as the chocolate and orange log, fruit cake bauble and pistachio and redcurrant tree. Price: Afternoon tea starts at £95pp and £115 with a glass of Nyetimber. Address: Strand, London WC2R 0EZ Book The Savoy afternoon tea here. TĪNG Shangri-La, The Shard TĪNG at the Shangri-La is serving a 'Season of Wonders' afternoon tea until 6 January 2026. The first thing you'll notice are the striking views of London from the heights of The Shard. The stunning scenery makes this trip worth it alone. Then choose from the extensive list of signature teas or add a festive cocktail, mocktail or glass of champagne. The finger sandwiches include coronation chicken, roast beef and truffle egg mayo, while extra savouries include a smoked duck bun with blackberry vinaigrette. Warm scones are served with clotted cream and cranberry jam for full on festivities. Finish with pastries including a 'Festive bauble-choux' and 'Charmed snowy tree'. A vegetarian tea is also available. Price: £89pp, £99 with a glass of champagne. Address: 31 St Thomas Street, London SE1 9QU Book the TĪNG festive afternoon tea here. Fortnum & Mason, The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon, Piccadilly Fortnum & Mason serves its seasonal afternoon tea in The Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon. For the Christmas tea, you can expect classic sandwiches with a festive twist such as Christmas spiced ham, alongside familiar cucumber or egg mayo. Still-warm scones are served with Somerset clotted cream, strawberry and champagne preserve and orange curd, while cakes and patisserie highlights include a mince tart, mandarin mousse and sticky figgy loaf. Price: £84pp for traditional or vegetarian afternoon tea with a pot of Fortnum’s Tea Address: 181 Piccadilly, St James's, London W1A 1ER. Book the Fortnum & Mason afternoon tea here. The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, Knightsbridge This festive afternoon tea served at The Carlton Tower Jumeirah until 11 January 2026 is inspired by Cadogan Gardens. It's perfect for a spot of indulgence after a shopping trip. Cosy up in their dedicated tearoom, complete with a warming fire and pastry counter. Start with a selection of sandwiches and savouries including a truffle beignet, lobster tartelette and Norfolk turkey sandwich. Expect the unexpected with the 'Scones Experience', with four different flavours of scones to enjoy. After a quince lollipop palate cleanser, the pastries to finish include a pear tart, chocolate pecan tree and apple bread pudding. The tea is accompanied by a selection of JING teas, chosen for flavour and wellness benefits. £1 from every tea is donated to The Felix Project. Price: from £85pp Address: The Carlton Tower Jumeirah, 1 Cadogan Pl, London SW1X 9PY Book festive afternoon tea at The Carlton tower here. Related reviews and recipes Best afternoon teas in London Best afternoon teas in the UK Best afternoon tea recipes
Best Christmas foodie hampers to buy 2025
Whether you want to stock your cupboards with treats or need a gift for the foodie in your life, these are the most indulgent hampers to buy
Looking for the best Christmas hamper to treat a lucky loved one? Whether you're looking for the ultimate cheese box, a wicker basket full of sweet and savoury treats, we've gathered the best Christmas foodie hampers to buy this year, whether as a treat for yourself or friends and family. Looking for more gifting inspiration? If you've got someone specific to buy for try our specially tailored gift guides for beer enthusiasts, coffee lovers and gin fans. If you fancy making your own gifts this year, we've gathered our best edible gift recipes for delicious homemade presents. Read on for our picks of the best gourmet food hampers for Christmas. Best Christmas foodie hampers to buy at a glance Best unique produce hamper: The Flavours of Oldstead Hamper, £190 Best luxury Christmas hamper: Daylesford Organic 12 Days of Christmas Hamper, £130 Best luxury artisan hamper: The Osip Christmas hamper, £165 Best Spanish hamper: Brindisa Indulgence Hamper, £165 Best Christmas breakfast hamper: Ginger Pig Butcher’s Champagne Breakfast Box, £78 Best afternoon tea hamper: British Hamper Company afternoon tea gift basket, £63.97 Best hamper for cider lovers: DukesHill Whisky Cask Cider Savoury Hamper, £85 Best Cornish hamper: The Fruit Scone Cream Tea Hamper, £23.95 Best hamper for keen gardeners: Petersham Nurseries Gardening Hamper, £95 Best for Chinese cooking: Poon’s Heritage Hamper, £70 Best Christmas cheese hamper: Paxton & Whitfield 12 Days of Christmas Cheese Hamper, £85 Best Christmas foodie hampers to buy 2025 The Flavours of Oldstead Food Hamper Available from Made in Oldstead (£190) Best unique produce hamper A unique hamper with handmade products featuring seasonal ingredients grown and foraged by Tommy Banks and his team in North Yorkshire, this will keep someone going with delicious treats throughout the festive season. As well as a tomato leaf and lemon verbena candle, there are a selection of seasonal British cheeses like Young Buck, jars of spruce tip honey and red onion chutney, salami, Yorkshire lomo and classics such as beerglazed ham and chicken liver parfait, as well as a homemade beef shin ragu. Available from: Made in Oldstead (£190) Daylesford Organic 12 Days of Christmas Hamper Available from Daylesford Organic (£130) Best luxury Christmas hamper A selection of 12 festive treats to enjoy in the run-up to the big day including sweet and savoury snacks, a log fire candle, Christmas cocktail and the bestselling rosé frizzante sparkling wine. Available from: Daylesford Organic (£130) The Osip Christmas Hamper Available from Maison Osip (£165) Best luxury artisan hamper This hamper delivers a taste of gourmet luxury. A celebration of local producers and artisans from Maison Osip, it is a carefully curated selection of festive treats. The centrepiece is a hefty Christmas pudding, arriving in a ceramic bowl to reuse year after year. There's a wedge of Westcombe cheddar for festive cheeseboards, a bottle of English sparkling wine and a bottled fig leaf negroni – a chic twist on the classic cocktail. Coffee, chocolate from Pump Street Bakery and a tote bag round out the wicker hamper. It's expensive, but each item has been carefully chosen for quality. Available from: Maison Osip (£165) Brindisa Indulgence Hamper Available from Brindisa (£165) Best Spanish hamper Jam-packed with a wealth of luxury Spanish food gifts, from La Solana truffled cheese to Amatller white chocolate coated marcona almonds. The contents would all make brilliant snacks for a gourmet Christmas drinks party. Available from: Brindisa (£165) Ginger Pig Butcher’s Champagne Breakfast Box Available from The Ginger Pig (£78) Best Christmas breakfast hamper Create a festive breakfast of champions with thick-cut streaky and back bacon, sausages and black pudding, homemade rhubarb and blood orange jams, and tomato sauce, all served with a chilled glass of champagne. Available from: The Ginger Pig (£78) British Hamper Company afternoon tea basket Available from British Hamper Company (£63.97) Best afternoon tea hamper This smart hamper from British Hamper Company, delivered in a wicker basket and with every item in signature navy and red packaging, would make a great classic gift for someone with a sweet tooth. There's tins of earl grey and English breakfast tea, a dark and rich fruit cake loaded with nuts and cherries, a jar of strawberry jam and two boxes of biscuits – buttery shortbread or, our favourite, crunchy stem ginger cookies, that are perfect with a cup of tea. It is traditional classics done well for a simple sharing hamper. A personalised gift message can be added to the delivery. Available from: British Hamper Company (£63.97) DukesHill Whisky Cask Cider Savoury Hamper Available from DukesHill (£85) Best hamper for cider lovers Cider fans will love this sumptuous hamper. Inside, discover three bottles of Dukeshill’s rich and warming cider aged in whisky, accompanied by Isle of Mull cheddar and a lavish selection of sliced charcuterie including pastrami, bresaola, lomo and porchetta, plus accompaniments like fig chutney and multi-seed crackers. Available from: DukesHill (£85) The Fruit Scone Cream Tea Hamper Available from Not on the High Street (£23.95) Best Cornish hamper For a taste of the Cornish countryside, this hamper contains everything you need for the perfect Cornish afternoon tea (that's jam then cream). As well as freshly baked scones for four you'll find Rodda's clotted cream, strawberry jam, Cornish tea and two flavours of biscuit. Available from: Not on the High Street (£23.95) Petersham Nurseries Gardening Hamper Available from Petersham Nurseries (£95) Best hamper for keen gardeners A great gift for budding kitchen gardeners that includes a hand trowel and fork, herb and heirloom veg seed collections, and a smart pair of Niwaki gloves. Available from: Petersham Nurseries (£95) Poon’s Heritage Hamper Available from Poon's Pantry (£70) Best for Chinese cooking A striking red box with signature Poon’s artwork, this brings together Bill Poon’s wind-dried meats made from a traditional family recipe with daughter Amy Poon’s signature chilli oil and WO sauce. Available from: Poon's Pantry (£70) Paxton & Whitfield 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' Hamper Available from Paxton & Whitfield (£85) Best Christmas cheese hamper Because Christmas isn't complete without a good selection of cheese. This hamper is a true celebration of artisan cheese and luxurious accompaniments. It includes rich Cropwell Bishop stilton, creamy Aldwych and bakeable Celtic Soft, plus sea salt fudge, Taylors LBV port, spicy chutneys and crispbreads. Available from: Paxton & Whitfield (£85) Related reviews Best baking gifts Best cheese gifts Best vegan hampers and gifts Best advent calendars Best coffee advent calendars Best alcohol advent calendars Best Italian cookbooks Best gifts for cheese lovers Best gifts for foodies Best tea advent calendars Best matcha tea powders
Check out our favourite restaurants, bars and foodie spots in this buzzing area of north London. Try Mexican-style rotisserie chicken, low-intervention wines, bacon naans and more
Looking for King’s Cross restaurants? Here are our favourite restaurants in King’s Cross. Check out our ideas for eating and drinking in King’s Cross, from Coal Drops Yard to Granary Square and beyond… Next discover the best private dining rooms in the UK and the best UK spa hotels or food lovers. For more London food inspiration, check out our guides to the best restaurants in Soho, best restaurants in Islington, best restaurants in Paddington and best restaurants in Mayfair. Best places to eat and drink near King's Cross station Island — for elevated surf and turf Island takes the concept of surf and turf, and adds two cult chefs - Tom Brown (on surf) and Brad Carter (on turf) – to create a unique and playful menu. The dining room occupies the top floor of buzzy Mare St Market – it’s a big space but the cosy velvet-lined booths, banquette seating and chandelier-covered ceiling manage to make it warm and welcoming. We kicked off with a lamb and clam skewer – chunks of lamb belly, the fat rendered crispy and smoky, topped with tiny salty clams. Not listed on the menu but recommended by our server were seaweed flatbreads, puffed and golden with the edges almost like fried bread. We shared a whole grilled john dory which came doused in caper-spiked café de paris butter, the sweet flesh falling of the bone. An aged dairy ribeye was served with a deep umami version of peppercorn sauce and in place of chips little crunchy ‘turf’ roasties dusted with bone marrow powder (we also got the surf version dusted with mussel powder). A Bogtrotter-style layered chocolate cake to share finished us off – rich and dark with a shiny chocolate glaze, it was a perfect end to the meal. island-restaurants.com Bao Kings Cross — for Bao’s take on Western-style cafes in Asia This modern all-day dining spot, tucked between the canal and St Pancras, offers a chance to dine in and a take-away bakery option. As the name suggests, this is one of the Bao stable and its signature fluffy white bao is on the menu, along with two exclusive versions (giving you a good excuse to visit every venue), a hamburger bao (just as it sounds) and a seafood roll made from a decadent fried brioche filled with lobster, crayfish and mayo. The rest of lobster reappears as a no-waste dish, head split open with crisp fries to dip into the creamy filling. A Taiwanese breakfast staple is reimagined, the standout ham hock congee comes not with a side of youtiao (fried bread sticks) but a golden pastry topping to rip off and dip — if you only eat one thing, make it this. Desserts feature BAOfiterole and an exemplary pineapple cake (actually a pastry), and cocktails include a plum sake-based negroni. The bakery dispenses salted egg custard ‘sad face’ bao and cookie caramel bao alongside coffee — should you wish to take away. baolondon.com Supermax – for a hidden gem bar Supermax is a hidden gem in King’s Cross, transporting guests straight to the disco era with its 70s-style speakeasy vibes. Tucked beneath Happy Face Pizza, it’s the perfect spot for both an after-work aperitif (don’t miss the daily aperitivo hour from 5-7pm) and late-night revelry. The cocktail list here is a well-curated mix, from classics with a twist, like the negroni picante and mezcal old fashioned to unique creations like the signature spicy Maxcalita that comes to your table, quite literally smoking, ideal for adventurous palates. The expert bartenders are always on hand to recommend the perfect drink if you’re unsure. For a light bite, the menu offers tasty nibbles like smoky almonds and Nocellara olives. Stick around past 10 pm on Thursdays through Saturdays to dance under the disco ball and neon lights, making this an all-in-one nightlife destination. supermaxbar.com Sushi on Jones – for affordable omakase With omakase menu prices often heading into triple figures, it’s refreshing that this London outpost of a New York fave brings it in for £68 for 12 courses. It’s an intimate space with only eight seats at a counter, so you can watch as head sushi chef Mattia Aranini and his team prepare and explain each course. Tasting menu £68; sushionjones.com Booking Office 1869 – for classic all-day dining Booking Office 1869 is the re-imagining of the original 19th-century ticket hall that has greeted the many travellers visiting St Pancras Station since its opening in 1869. But Harry Handelsman – lead behind the redesign – is no stranger to grand undertakings, having been responsible for past projects including the Chiltern Firehouse. This relaunch coincides with the 10-year anniversary of stewardship of the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel, where the restaurant is located. With décor that embraces its Victorian heritage and celebrates the building’s rich history, plus a menu that highlights classic dishes and gives them a modern twist, Booking Office 1869 is establishing itself as the place to be for all-day dining in London’s King’s Cross, whether it be for an early breakfast or late-night supper. booking-office.co.uk Fatto Pizza & Beer – for authentic Neapolitan pizza If you like your pizza pillowy, Fatto A Mano’s Kings Cross outpost is a must-visit. The opening from the Neapolitan-style pizzeria boasts modern furnishings and a buzzy atmosphere, perfect for a quick and casual dinner with friends. Which pizza to order? The menu balances traditional Italian toppings with simple twists, with everything from fennel sausage and Neapolitan broccoli to mortadella and a whole burrata. Dough is made fresh every day then left to prove for at least 24 hours – meaning less yeast is used for a lighter crust – then, the pizza is cooked at about 450 degrees for no more than 90 seconds (just how they do it in Naples). To start, nibble on nocellara olives and fennel tarallini as you sip on a seasonal aperitivo. A bowl of signature Campania fries is ideal for sharing, or opt for a cheeky salad of buffalo bocconcini, pesto, tomato and Little Gem lettuce. Everything is noticeably fresh and well proportioned, so you’re getting bang for your buck, too. Round off your night in typical Italian fashion with a limoncello – a smooth, warming digestif. fattoamanopizza.com Decimo – for hip Mexican with a view Hop in the red bubble lift that clings to the outside of The Standard Hotel up to chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias’s striking top floor restaurant. Cacti poke out from behind wooden features, Mexican textiles line sweeping curved banquettes, and a large open fireplace provides a focal point. Bag a burgundy-tiled table by the window for iconic London views while you sip zippy margaritas on the rocks or Sevilla mimosas and peruse the menu. Order a selection of Spanish and Mexican small plates, including salty anchovies slivers in a pool of confit garlic oil, panko-coated croquetas laced with iberico ham and manchego, and charcoaled sourdough to scoop up smoky red pepper tartare. At the Saturday brunch, try twists on classic egg dishes, such as huevos flamenco – iberico pork shoulder ribbons topped with two fried eggs. There are also tacos served on chunky bespoke marble platters and delicate skewers including pork in cumin and cinnamon or meltingly soft koji squid. Opt for the mezcal flight to taste a selection of handpicked regional Mexican agaves, from a toasty variety from the Pacific Coast to a Oaxacan mezcal distilled with coffee. All to the backdrop of live DJs and music. standardhotels.com Merkato, Kings Cross This Eritrean and Ethiopian restaurant on Caledonian Road is not only popular with knowing locals but has also attracted the attentions of London’s top critics in recent years. Portions are gargantuan – with speciality dishes like their dereq tbsi (sautéed beef with tomatoes, pepper and onion), keyh qlwa (hot spiced fried lamb), and special kitfo (minced beef with spiced butter). Their delicious injera (fermented teff flour pancake) is tangy and springy in texture, the perfect vehicle to scoop up everything in front of you. merkatokingscross.co.uk Hoppers – for Sri Lankan food in bustling Pancras Square Any food lover will know that Hoppers gets its names from the crisp, bowl-shaped pancakes made from a fermented batter of rice flour and coconut milk. They are devilishly difficult to make at home – but devilishly delicious in the hands of the chefs at the buzzy, spacious, family-friendly King’s Cross branch of Hoppers, the third in the empire from JKS restaurants. Filled with a soft fried egg or masala, they are a must-try. But, there are other essential-order dishes inspired by the street food along the coastal journey from the capital Colombo to Galle. Crunchy mutton rolls yield soft and tender shredded meat. Devilled paneer, a perfect sponge for chilli sauce, has a pleasing bounce. Chilli cheese dosa is as big as a bath sheet and a perfect mop for signature karis, the stand-out of which being swimmer crab – a tangle of shell and claws smothered in intense, silky sauce. Make sure you choose Hoppers’ own beer – Toddy ale. It has a touch of salt, which is as surprising as it is fire-dousing. hopperslondon.com/kingscross Happy Face Pizza – for pizza Tucked away behind Coal Drops Yard, Happy Face Pizza is a must-visit if you’re after a low-key dinner without having to queue. A slick marble bar takes centre stage, with high stools and sharing tables filling the industrial-style space. Wood-fired pizzas (with dough fermented for 72 hours) come with puffy, charred crusts and sloppy centres. Try the salsiccia with smoked mozzarella, Neapolitan sausage and fresh fiery chilli, or the prosciutto one for a salty number. If you just fancy a snack, order shoestring zucchini fritti, washed down with a house-bottled Roller Ball cocktail – a concoction of Suze, white vermouth and tonic cordial. For more party vibes, head downstairs to SUPERMAX, a vermouth-led cocktail bar that’s all glitter balls, plush pink furnishings and DJs every Friday night. happyface.pizza Fortitude Bakehouse – for bakes Time is a key ingredient at Dee Rettali’s fascinating mews bakery off Russell Square. Doughs and cake batters are designed to ferment in stages, between making, rolling and baking, to enhance their complexity. “We make a fermented brownie using a liquid starter and cultured butter which sits for four days before baking,” explains Dee. From Guinness cakes to lunch sandwiches of zaalouk, aged feta, preserved lemon and parsley, flavour inspiration is drawn from Dee’s Irish background and her love of Morocco. A viral hit, Fortitude’s beignet might feature a rhubarb cream filling and crumble topping: “The dough is a fermented, fried brioche, not typical doughnut dough.” fortitudebakehouse.com Granger & Co. – for brunch Granger & Co. King's Cross is the third London location of Australian celebrity chef Bill Granger's restaurants. Focussing on it's trademark sunny, healthy style of Med/Southeast Asian food, great cocktails, wine and top-notch coffee, Granger and Co is open from breakfast to dinner every day. Granger & Co's menus are famously eclectic, bringing flair to the sunny Australian Med/South-east Asian melting-pot. The crispy duck, spring onion crepes, iceberg and plum sauce, is an especially memorable dish which could be likened to a dream you might have had about what crispy duck pancakes might be like before you'd ever seen any. Granger & Co. makes reference to 80's Italian train station restaurants, with its Terrazzo floors and bar tops, olive leather banquettes, a wood-panelled ceiling, 70s table lamps, moody modern art, salmon and peach paintwork, an Italian style leather and brass fixed-stool-seated bar with a huge feature mirror dominating the space behind it. grangerandco.com Canopy Market – for street food This weekly food market in King’s Cross plays host to independent food producers every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Choose between honeycomb doughnuts from Bread Ahead, meats from The Charcuterie Board and hot sauces from World of Zing. Take your pick between indulgent risotto balls from the Arancini Brothers, or grilled cheese sandwiches at the Big Melt. canopymarket.co.uk Best places to eat and drink in Coal Drops Yard Bubala, Lewis Cubitt Park – for Middle Eastern vegetarian small plates Bubala has done it again. The third spot from Marc Summers (Berber & Q) and Helen Graham (Palomar) boasts its very own wood-fired oven, as well as a bright, light-filled space and tall ceilings – unlike its cosier counterparts in Soho and Shoreditch – and with shelves furnished with pickle jars and greenery. Trust that ‘Bubala Knows Best’ with the vegetarian or vegan set menus. Start with a pickle plate – three types all in different brines – closely followed by the superlative dips. The superbly silky baba ganoush comes with a well of curry leaf oil and toasted pine nuts, alongside a sleek fava bean dip with vadouvan. Smoky laffa bread is fresh off the grill and beautifully charred. The oyster mushroom skewer with tamari and coriander seed is a highlight, with umami meatiness that will convince even the staunchest mushroom naysayers. Crisp falafel with a vibrant green centre is served with tangy mango pickle amba and sumac onions. Even something as simple as a side salad is pepped with Bubala flair – oak and mustard leaves with onion, pomegranate molasses and mint is a refreshing complement to the deep-fried falafel, charred, smoky vegetables and creamy dips. Wash it all down with a spicy margarita rimmed with flecks of char from the grill. bubala.co.uk El Pastor Coal Drops Yard – for Mexican party vibes Dining is an alfresco affair at El Pastor – with multicoloured tables and chairs grouped around a central bar in a covered, heated terrace, complete with Latin beats on the speakers. The menu might be casual – spicy Mexican-style rotisserie chicken, tostadas and tacos are the stars here – but there’s an attention to detail that elevates the food. A surprisingly meaty mushroom taco comes with oaxaca cheese, caramelised onion, pumpkin seeds and coriander, with a piquant salsa made with toasted árbol chillies and garlic oil (they have seven salsas in total, all made in-house). tacoselpastor.co.uk Lina Stores – for pasta This swish space near Coal Drop’s Yard is made more cosy with soft globe lighting and clever sectioning off into counter dining, a bar lined with Italian aperitivi, and booths sheltered by iconic striped awnings in Lina Stores’ signature pale peppermint hues. Kick things off with a cocktail – try a punchy Villa Ascenti Gin negroni or a refreshing Italian twist on the g&t spiked with vermouth, black olive tonic and a sprig of rosemary. Antipasti dishes include roast aubergine and red peppers adorned with toasted pine nuts, nocellara olives and caramelised sultanas. Or slices of tuna carpaccio topped with gherkins, salsa verde, caper berries and lemon zest with tuna anchovy mayo. The focus is on fresh, handmade pasta dishes to share. Pici alla Norcia is a highlight, with thick pici pasta worms topped with a deep, umami-rich ragu of porcini mushrooms and Umbrian sausage. Large ravioli parcels are filled with sweet pumpkin and black pepper, or try oxtail ragu enriched with black ferrandina olives and tossed through silky pappardelle folds. linastores.co.uk The Drop – for wine Exposed brick walls, low-arched ceilings and soft lighting give The Drop an intimate, unpretentious feel. The chiefly European curated wine list focusses on mostly low-intervention and small producers, from France to Georgia. There’s lots to explore here, plus Guinness on tap and cheese toasties from the kitchen. thedropbar.co.uk Vermuteria – for aperitivo Vermuteria opened at Coal Drops Yard, King’s Cross, in October 2018 and it’s the first café and bar created by chef Anthony Demetre and designer Michael Sodeau. As well as charcuterie and dishes combining European and British influences (think rabbit in mustard sauce, potato and kale; Galician octopus and chickpeas; or venison ragu and gnocchi), there are more than 70 vermouths on the list. The vermouth takes centre stage in the form of simple aperitifs and a base for cocktails such as the sbagliato (Cinzano Rosso, Campari and prosecco). vermuteria.cc Click here for the best wine bars across the country Best places to eat and drink in Granary Square Dishoom – for casual Indian food Inspired by the all-day Irani cafés that were an integral part of Bombay life, there are now four branches of Dishoom in London (and another in Edinburgh), each serving Bombay breakfast, lunch, afternoon chai and dinner. Dishoom restaurant can also be found in Shoreditch, Carnaby and Covent garden. To see more of our best Indian restaurants in London, click here Ruby Violet – for ice cream Run with old-school glamour but contemporary flair by ex-food photographer Julie Fisher (the name is a nod to her maternal grandmother), this north London ice cream hot spot developed from a stall at a local market. As Julie says ‘ice cream makes people smile’ and Ruby Violet’s certainly does that. As far as possible, Julie subscribes to the fresh, seasonal, local philosophy; look out for peach and rosewater, damson, English strawberry, Seville orange marmalade ripple and Kentish Town honey. rubyviolet.co.uk Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Chelsea Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Battersea Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
Check out our favourite restaurants, bars and foodie spots in this buzzing area of south-east London. Try Persian meze, low-intervention wines, Indian street food nibbles and more
Looking for restaurants in Peckham? Check out our favourite restaurants, bars and foodie spots in the SE area, from French-style bistros to Persian meze and plant-based Indian street food. After, read about our favourite new restaurants in London. Best places to eat and drink in Peckham Kokum, East Dulwich Road This smart neighbourhood restaurant on the East Dulwich/Peckham border serves some of the highest quality Indian cooking this side of the river. It should be no surprise, given the restaurant is the vision of Sanjay Gour (ex-head chef at Gymkhana) and Simeron Lily Patel – co-founders of the Michelin-rated Dastaan and Black Salt Sheen. Far from Michelin prices, Kokum offers a competitively priced menu that bridges delicate starters with bowls of gravy-laden curries and flaky lachha paratha. Dahi puri saw dainty layers of potato, chickpea and moong sprout submerged in deceptively fiery layers of tang, sweet and spice. Pickled and charred tandoori roast cauliflower sat in a pool of hot makhani sauce, jewelled with pockets of mint and coriander chutney. The curries that followed accommodate to the neighbourhood clientele, with deep bowls of lamb rogan josh and lemongrass-infused makrut lime prawns. A side of dal makhani – eight-hour slow-cooked black lentils – countered the mains with its dark sultriness. There’s plenty of choice to drink too – the sharp cocktail list includes an espresso martini spiced with chai liqueur, and a punchy strawberry blush, pepped with tamarind spicy vodka and lengthened with basil tonic. Desserts include a rich kulfi made with Iranian pistachio and rum-flambéed gulab jamun, tempered with vanilla ice cream. kokumlondon.com Lai Rai, Rye Lane Meet friends for fuss-free snacks and cold beers at this dinky new-school Vietnamese on Rye Lane. With the name Lai Rai meaning ‘little by little’, the space is a homage to Vietnamese canteens, with a buttery colour palette, neon lighting and slick red stools. By day it serves bánh mì and Vietnamese coffee, by evening the menu mutates into playful twists on familiar Vietnamese flavours – you won't find any bowls of pho here. Small plates include crunchy prawn lollies on sugarcane stalks and a light, multicoloured papaya jellyfish salad with lumps of pineapple, charred tomatoes, fresh Viet herbs and peanuts, wiped clean with charred bánh mì chunks. Larger dishes include a twice-cooked chicken leg atop a herby dressing and grilled betel leaf beef, swimming in a smoky pool of house-made coffee barbecue jus. Vietnamese-inspired cocktails include the Xoài Kick, a bracing mix of tequila, mango, red chillies and fruit salt, and a Viet coffee-laced vodka martini. Finish with a scoop of freshly churned ice cream made by small south London manufacturer Clingy Wrap, with funky flavours including fish sauce vanilla caramel and kumquat cucumber sorbet. If you're looking for something altogether unexpected, you’ll find it here. lairai.london Hausu, Station Way Housed inside a Victorian Grade II listed train station, Hausu makes a cool and cosy date night spot run by head chef Holly Middleton Joseph. Luckily, the backdrop of clattering trains is cleverly masked by a vintage high-fidelity sound system that plays funk and soul. The menu's modern sharing plates promise bold flavours such as its signature spin on prawn toast, piled high with a mountainous helping of prawn and scallop mousse coated in black sesame seeds and deep fried until crisp. To finish, it’s plated with a fermented chilli ketchup and dusted with dehydrated scallop roe. The menu changes with the seasons, along with the DJs, so every time you swing by it feels like a new experience. Plus, when you're ready to go home you’re handily already at the station. hausulondon.co.uk Dough Hands, Nunhead Green Dough Hands has garnered a cult following due to its crisp dough and feather-light crust, made possible by baking its pizzas low and slow at 350 degrees. Led by pizzaiolo Hannah Drye, this trendy pizza joint is co-pioneering the emerging London pizza, a style which mashes up various influences including a New York inspired thin crust and light base. Dough Hands is currently doing a permanent kitchen residency at fun-loving south London pub The Old Nun's Head, as well as Hackney-based The Spurstowe Arms. The menu features a handful of 12-inch pizzas. The Jode – arguably the most popular and delicious – sees spicy sausage and stracciatella drizzled with hot honey, finished with a sprinkle of fresh basil and parmesan. Veggies have a cause to celebrate thanks to the Shroomy 2.0, one of the freshest vegetarian offerings we’ve tried. Expect mushrooms roasted in soy sauce, topped with soft taleggio cheese, tarragon, garlic and grana padano. The soy provides a rich umami kick which isn’t typically seen atop mushroom pizzas. Sides are kept simple, with just the garlic bread available, covered in a herby garlic butter. Dips includes everyone’s favourite garlic and herb, as well as Dough Hands’ signature hot honey and very own fermented hot sauce. Happy Endings ice cream sandwiches are also available at the bar. We washed down our pizzas with a cold beer – we opted for a pint of Lucky Saint lager and a Lazer Crush by Beavertown, a razor-sharp alcohol-free IPA. instagram.com/doughhandspizza/ Taquiza, Rye Lane Mexican-inspired eatery, Taquiza, is a fun, laid-back spot, perfect for dinner with friends. It's an open and buzzy space, situated under a Peckham archway, with a menu of eat-with-your-hands dishes: grilled elote showered in chipotle aïoli, chilli and queso añejo (Mexican cheese), 12-hour beef tacos with salsa roja, onion and coriander, chiles toreados (blistered chilli peppers) and smoked tofu chorizo tacos with xcatik cream (a spicy chilli pepper cream), guacamole and jalapeños. There’s an impressively sized pasilla chocolate mousse for dessert, topped with vanilla cremate and sprinkled with pumpkin seeds and pistachio. Wash it all down with margarita picantes or, if the evening calls for it, a shot of smoky mezcal. instagram.com/taquizaldn/ Peckham Arches, Blenheim Grove Find this trendy south-east London haunt underneath the railway arches of Peckham Rye station, complete with a botanical garden terrace, two cocktail bars and art gallery. Watch chefs as they sling pizza from a wood-fired oven, laden with toppings such as Italian spicy sausage, mozzarella and Frank’s hot honey or – our favourite – ’nduja with mozzarella, pickled red chilli and red onion, finished with lashings of creamy garlic sauce. Choose from a selection of hot, crunchy morsels on the ‘nibbles’ menu – the mushroom and truffle arancini and the crispy courgette fries are not to be missed. Cocktails are given equal attention, offering refreshing mezcal and tequila numbers like a picante, a grapefruit margarita and a passion fruit mezcalita. Natural wines, ‘regular’ wines, draught and local beers are also available. peckhamarches.com En Root, Peckham Rye Brothers Nish and Harsh have come a long way since selling hot sauce at markets in 2016, expanding to a bricks-and-mortar in Clapham and, more recently, a plant-based restaurant in Peckham decked with plants, draped mandala tapestries and decorative cushions. Sip on the watermelon juice with beetroot, apple, ginger and mint during summer evenings, or ask for the modestly priced cocktail menu, where juices are livened with rum. Nourishing vegan fare lies at the heart of En Root, offering Indian classics and street food nibbles infused with Gujarati spices. Start with sharing bites: puri is filled with beetroot, onions and chickpeas, and submerged in date tamarind masala water, while the plantain chaat – seasoned plantain on a bed of beetroot, onions, chickpeas, ‘spice krispies’ and chutney – is an explosion of sweet crunch. For mains, saag aloo-filled dosas come with lentil soup and coconut chutney. Or, for optimum health, try the buddha bowl, generously filled with rainbow salad, baba ghanoush, sprouted lentils, curried chickpeas, plantain and avocado. To finish, the mango lassi cheesecake on an oaty coconut base offers a healthier twist on the original – best served with creamy chai. enrootldn.co.uk Peckham Cellars, Queen's Road Elegant floor-to-ceiling Crittal windows frame this breezy, laid-back wine bar on Queen's Road in Peckham. Start with a glass of lemony Gusbourne fizz from Kent before delving into a wine list defined by sustainably minded, small-scale producers, with plenty of affordable options by the glass. We try another Kentish stunner – Westwell's Ortega Amphora 2019, fermented in terracotta jars – with fragrant apricot and honey suckle notes, before moving onto summery, cherry-tinged chilled gamay, available on tap at the bar. A quietly industrious open kitchen, led by chef Henry Freestone – garlanded with a Bib Gourmand in 2020 – amiably sends out plates of unfussy yet deceptively luxurious food. Highlights include springy sourdough with whipped lemon and rosemary butter, porchetta layered with crispy, salty shards of crackling, and filo-wrapped asparagus with a soft-boiled duck egg for dipping. Save space for pudding – a decadent lemon meringue pie sundae is the childhood dessert of dreams. peckhamcellars.co.uk Levan, Blenheim Grove Inspired by the new-wave bistros of Paris, Levan’s short menu is split into three sections – snacks, small plates and larger sharing dishes. Start with a few snacks –tuck into a unique comté panisse that’s deep-fried to produce bouncy, cheesy domino fries to dip into saffron aïoli. The highlight of the small plates is the ravioli – thick pasta parcels filled with brown butter-caramelised celeriac, accompanied by knobbly, deep-fried jerusalem artichokes and crisp cavolo nero. For mains, the vacherin pie is rich and cheesy, peppery and earthy – a shiny golden dome with frilly outer crust that collapses into layers of dauphinoise potatoes, slow-cooked black trompette and chestnut mushrooms and melted vacherin cheese. Finish with tarte tatin. The golden puff pastry melts away, with salted caramel-braised apple slices adding lip-smacking salty-sweetness. The carefully curated wine list focusses on low-intervention and natural wines. Jura chardonnay is super fresh with toffee notes, while vibrant trousseau makes for a light and fruity red with a hint of smoke. There are just two cocktails: the simple ‘white’ mixes Tanqueray 10 with Belthasar riesling vermouth over a large block of ice, while the ‘red’ is served in a more elegant flute with wine-based Ciroc vodka, sweet and dry vermouth. levanlondon.co.uk Frank’s Café, Rye Lane This is about as trendy and hipster as you get, but in the best possible way. On top of a multi-storey car park in Peckham, there's a pithy list of on-trend drinks, from negronis, margaritas and cucumber gimlets to jug cocktails such as white port and tonic, and fruity rum punch. Snacks include brown sugar hot wings, deep-fried mackerel in a bun, and lamb breast kebab with burnt chilli yogurt. It closes for winter and opens in the spring each year. boldtendencies.com/franks-cafe Persepolis, Peckham High Street Pay a visit to Persepolis for a taste of Persia in the heart of Peckham. Beyond the deli’s impressive selection of tins, spices, Persian yogurts and display of shisha pipes, you’ll find a cosy hideout where diners feast on freshly made meze platters and veggie and vegan delights such as eggs scrambled with dates and fragrant spices, and dairy-free knickerbocker glories. This popular café is a favourite among locals for its no-nonsense, avocado-free breakfasts (think mango and tamarind smoothies and pots of Persian tea with cardamom); however, the £20 tasting menu is the real standout: a colourful carousel of food spanning meze, soup, mains and a dessert platter filled with ice cream, paklava and fruit. foratasteofpersia.co.uk Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
Best new restaurants in London to visit in 2025
The best new restaurant openings in London, expertly reviewed by the olive team. Keep up to date with the hottest new openings and find out which are not to be missed, plus which dishes to order in each restaurant
Looking for new restaurants in London? We've visited the hot new openings in the capital to experience the restaurant for ourselves to bring you our regularly updated best London restaurants list. Read on for all the best new openings (including some from the end of last year) and we'll be continually adding new restaurant openings for 2025 as they launch, after we've expertly reviewed each one. For more restaurant guides check out our best restaurants in Soho, Covent Garden, Shoreditch and the best restaurants with rooms in the UK. If you want to pull out all the stops, find out the UK's best showstopping restaurants to impress or try the best chef's table experiences in the UK. Best new London restaurant openings 2025 Island, Kings Cross For elevated surf and turf Island takes the concept of surf and turf, and adds two cult chefs - Tom Brown (on surf) and Brad Carter (on turf) – to create a unique and playful menu. Although they aren’t cooking here day to day there’s some serious skill behind the open grill that lends a beautifully smoky edge to dishes. The dining room occupies the top floor of buzzy Mare St Market – it’s a big space but the cosy velvet-lined booths, banquette seating and chandelier-covered ceiling manage to make it warm and welcoming. We kicked off with a lamb and clam skewer – chunks of lamb belly, the fat rendered crispy and smoky, topped with tiny salty clams. Not listed on the menu but recommended by our server were seaweed flatbreads, puffed and golden with the edges almost like fried bread. We shared a whole grilled john dory which came doused in caper-spiked café de paris butter, the sweet flesh falling of the bone. An aged dairy ribeye was served with a deep umami version of peppercorn sauce and in place of chips little crunchy ‘turf’ roasties dusted with bone marrow powder (we also got the surf version dusted with mussel powder). A Bogtrotter-style layered chocolate cake to share finished us off – rich and dark with a shiny chocolate glaze, it was a perfect end to the meal. island-restaurants.com 74 Charlotte St by Ben Murphy, Fitzrovia For modern European 74 Charlotte Street by Ben Murphy sees the chef (who ran the kitchen at Launceston Place to great acclaim) in his first solo spot. The room is calm and elegant: coming in from a rainy winter evening the golden light and a warm atmosphere was immediately welcoming, as was the beautiful crescent-shaped cocktail bar where we kicked off with an icy, citrussy yuzu gimlet and a French 75. Such is the commitment to a perfect cocktail that my drink was decanted into a fresh frosty glass halfway through to keep it chilled. Don’t skip the bread – a pillowy loaf of tear-apart milk bread served with a cube of beurre noisette and a dish of hummus with vivid green pumpkin seed oil was just gorgeous. We loved the tender butter poached lobster tail with a tartlet topped with tiny discs of pumpkin to look like fish scales, and the iberica presa pork served perfectly pink with tiny grilled baby gem, carrot purée and a savoury jus – each dish looking like a little work of art. The wine list has some interesting by the glass options, with a Turkish sauvignon blanc being a particular surprise. Desserts are fun – there’s a retro mint green ice cream trolley with a seasonal flavour (mince pie on our visit) and a lovely chocolate tart, dense and rich with crisp chocolate pastry and hazelnut praline. 74charlottestreet.com 2210 by NattyCanCook, Herne Hill For reimagined Caribbean food As a Brixton resident I was extra excited about this opening. The Clink project at HMP Brixton inspired Nathaniel Mortley to turn his life around, launching a social media channel which led to residencies and now his permanent home in Herne Hill. Though born and raised in Peckham, Natty’s heritage is Bajan, Jamaican and Guyanese, thus he spotlights flavours and ingredients from the region in his elevated dishes. We kicked off by dunking grilled roti triangles into whipped scotch bonnet butter. Next came crispy spring rolls stuffed with ackee and saltfish, and pork belly with crackling trim, spiced jus and puddles of scotch bonnet mayo. I recommend sharing the hearty mains, all served with a choice of aromatic jollof rice or spiced rice and peas. There’s a sophisticated take on jerk chicken with mango and pineapple salsa, a much talked-about lamb rump with tamarind jus, and pan-seared spiced duck breast served with a show-stealing confit leg croquette. My highlight was whole brill lifted with a lightly spiced plantain velouté, pickled plantain cubes and vibrant coriander pesto. Don’t miss deep-fried apple crumble for dessert, presented in croquette form encasing spiced, pickled apple, with coffee chantilly cream and basil oil crème anglaise to lift. Cocktails pack a punch – signature rum punch is a popular choice, while margaritas are laced with scotch bonnet, and negronis infused with tangy sorrel. It’s a family affair – Natty's delightful godmother Cecilia was our server, his mum is his accountant and an old school friend helps out front of house. This, paired with the throwback soundtrack causing us to wiggle along in our plush grey chairs, ensures that good vibes prevail. I’m already planning a trip back for the Sunday roast, with the promise of scotch chimichurri roasties, followed by a brisk walk in neighbouring Brockwell Park. 2210bynattycancook.com Alex Crossley som saa, Shoreditch For Thai food After a fire devastated its kitchen early in 2025, som saa has reopened with its same regional Thai authenticity and buzzy vibes, but with a few new angles and a bit more bar-snack energy – recalibrations the team introduced after months to reflect and refresh. We started where the menu now gently nudges you to start: the nibbly bits. Tua phrik krob — deep-fried cashews with makrut lime leaf and dried chilli — are toasty, fragrant and entice you to keep reaching back into the bowl. Nang gai thort, crisp chicken skin with sriracha, makes you yearn to recreate it at home from the family roast. From there, the table builds itself. Gai yaang (BBQ chicken) comes off the grill juicy and lightly charred, with a tamarind jaew dip that keeps the sweet-sour heat tidy. Yum sanat, a warm northern salad of grilled pork, aubergine and herbs, has that lovely Thai balancing act: smoky meat, soft veg, bright herbs, a little roasted rice nuttiness. Dtom juet — clear soup of shiitake, samphire, kajon flowers and tofu skin — is the reset button in the middle of all that spice. Curries and braises keep the meal anchored. Mu parlow (five-spice soy-braised pork with fermented chilli sauce and a soy-cured egg) is glossy, savoury comfort, while gaeng gari yort mapraow orn — tofu with heart of coconut palm — brings an aromatic, gently sweet warmth. A side of sticky rice feels less like an option and more like the point. Olive tip: Start with four or five small dishes, then add a curry and rice. If the daily som dtam is on, order it — it sharpens everything around it. somsaa.com Keith Kendrick Cô Thành, Covent Garden For Vietnamese noodles On visiting Ho Chi Minh in 2013, Hong Kong based Brian Woo was transfixed by local Nguyễn Thị Thanh's street stand, returning daily for her rotating noodle soups. He befriended the ‘Lunch Lady’, training with her for three years before opening a restaurant in her name in Hong Kong. Now Cô Thành comes to Covent Garden, taking the elegant former Frenchie site and adding a vibrant Vietnamese canteen sheen – mirrored tabletops, signage popping from exposed brick walls and colourful plastic stools outside. Sharing starters include minced beef wrapped in betel leaf, sausage skewers glistening in tamarind glaze and beer battered chicken wings with sweet, spicy fish sauce. Next comes an extensive list of noodle soups, my highlight being fragrant bún bò huế, the broth sweetened with pineapple that tenderises the rare beef and beef shank slices along with springy meatballs, fresh herbs and shredded morning glory. Seafood-packed bún Thái has a tom yum edge thanks to tamarind, galangal and ginger, while bún mám packs a fermented umami punch, and bún riêu’s crab base is ideal for thinner vermicelli noodles. We were recommended to drop a couple of unique yellow chillies into our broth, allow them to infuse their floral fragrant spicy kick and then remove. Dinky desserts punch above their weight, from kem chuối inspired coconut and banana ice cream lifted with lime zest, to tiramisu laced with rum and dark roast coffee that caramelises into the mascarpone. Dipping deep-fried sponge fritters into Vietnamese drip cà phê took me right back to Hanoi’s quirky coffee shops. Next time I’ll be trying the clarified bloody mary style cocktail, Vietnamese Maria, for a savoury pick-me-up. cothanhrestaurant.com/london Alex Crossley The Salusbury, Queens Park For modern European cooking in a neighbourhood restaurant setting Half pub, half dining room, The Salusbury brings a confident new energy to leafy north-west London. We visited on a busy Friday night, the bar buzzing with chatter and that end-of-week cheer. Step through to the dining room, though, and the volume drops – it feels like a little pocket of calm tucked just off the action. Modern European cooking leads the charge and the kitchen delivers. We kicked off with the du jour snack, parmesan churros, and these were easily the best version we’ve tried: crisp, savoury and impossible not to leave even a crumb behind. A silky Dorset crab linguine with a peppery cacio e pepe kick had us chasing every last strand, helped along by warm rosemary focaccia that’s clearly made with care. Generous portions continue into the mains. Roast cod came piled high with mussels and sweet leeks in a bowl-sipping cider broth, while Somerset chicken arrived succulent and bronzed with golden gnocchi, sweetcorn and girolles. Desserts hold their own too – the salted caramel tart has just the right wobble and a perfectly judged sweetness. A polished, promising new neighbourhood staple. thesalusbury.co.uk Barney Desmazery Khao-Sō-i, Soho For fiery Northern Thai cuisine London doesn’t lack for Thai restaurants but at Khao-Sō-i – named after the curry noodle dish of Chiang Mai – chef Win Srinavakool has created a menu shaped by the flavours of northern Thailand, with smoke from a wood-fired grill and bold (okay, hot) spice. We began with moo ping: wafer-thin Norfolk pork belly skewers grilled over wood with a sticky, caramelised edge and a deep, savoury warmth. Tum khanun – young jackfruit salad tossed with northern herbs – whacks your tastebuds with refreshing and tingling heat and zest. It’s a perfect spot for an after-work or after-shopping catch-up, buzzing with chatter, the throb of music and the theatre of the open grill. The main event is the namesake khao soi. We tried it two ways: gai (chicken) and bai pye (torched beef chuck eye). The pleasure is in shaping it. Each bowl arrives with coconut cream, chilli flakes, herbs and crisp noodles on the side, so you build your own version: richer, hotter, crunchier, or all of the above, before you pull the noodles from the creamy spiced broth and slurp like no one’s watching. There’s an extensive drinks list but ice-cold Neckstamper pale ale is the way to go to douse the fire and cleanse your palate before diving in to luxurious cha thai cheesecake or bai toey ice cream with cloud-like cubes of brioche. Olive tip: If you go as a two-some order separate dishes and share. You’ll want to experience as much of the menu as possible. khaosoilondon.com Keith Kendrick Il Bambini Club, Hoxton For Italian food in beautiful surroundings Walk into the main entrance of The Hoxton hotel and you are immediately swept into the chic world of Il Bambini Club. The room is warmly lit and beautifully furnished – think curved banquette seating, colourful stripes and florals, and giant fringed lampshades. A big open kitchen runs along one side, which adds to the appealing buzz. We tucked ourselves into one of the comfy booths and kicked things off with pair of cocktails – a rosso spritz with Martini Riserva, cherry and sparkling red, and a punchy vesper martini. The concise menu is trattoria-style. Antipasti of zingy yellowfin tuna tartare came heaped on a pile of crushed avocado, and a whole burrata was served with a juicy panzanella salad (for smaller appetites these would make a perfect lunch or light dinner). After consulting our waiter went for piatti (mains) of meatballs cloaked in a rich tomato sauce with dollops of whipped ricotta and a roasted sea bass – the sweet flesh cut with bitter escarole and capers. From a mostly Italian wine list the chilled Nero d’Avola is great value at £9 a glass – a lovely partner to the food or light enough to drink as an aperitivo. For dessert we shared the very generous tiramisu – creamy and light with a decent kick of espresso and booze. It gave us an excuse to linger, have one more drink and enjoy the cosy vibes of the beautiful room. bambini-restaurant.com Janine Ratcliffe The Elizabeth, Belgravia For cosy bistro vibes This exciting opening sees legendary chef Anthony Demetre, who pioneered modern British cooking at restaurants like Arbutus and Wild Honey, overseeing the new menu. Stepping into the intimate dining room, all leather banquettes and dark wood panelling, felt like entering a Parisian-style bistro. We loved the cosy feel, especially as we were able to get a sneak peek at our neighbour’s dishes to help ordering. The concise menu follows a three-course style which felt refreshing in this age of sharing plates. From starters we chose a Demetre classic, pâté en croûte. Layers of guinea fowl, pork and duck in a crisp pastry shell which came in a generous slab with a dollop of pickled walnut ketchup. After consulting our server we went for mains with an autumnal feel – a steamed Cornish sea bream with a piquant diced piperade and a rich bouillabaisse sauce poured tableside for drama, and a meltingly tender duck confit with comforting stew of chickpeas, spinach and oregano. There’s a pleasingly retro cocktail list – I tried the zingy Lemondrop and my non-drinking guest was given a Juke of Westminster – a non alcoholic wine shrub posing as a glass of red. There’s also a great selection of wines by the glass starting at £7.50. We did end up sharing a dessert of perfectly executed crème brûlée with a rich vanilla spiked custard and shatteringly crisp crust which was a lovely light way to end dinner. olive tip: There’s an amazing value set menu at lunch and early dinner (two courses for £25 or three for £29.50) – on our visit it included Cumbrian beef tartare with ’nduja mayo and beef dripping toast; chicken with pearl barley, morteau and duxelles; and a pear tart with clotted cream. theelizabethsw1.co.uk Janine Ratcliffe Platapian, Soho Of the many surprising dishes at Platapian, the Soho Thai restaurant from the people behind Patara, one especially stood out: cabbage roasted until soft yet still with bite, the wedges dressed with fish sauce and whole chillies to deliver a sweet-salty heat that works beautifully with the vegetable’s faint sourness. But it’s by no means the only eyebrow-raiser in this stylish, sleek space on one of London’s busiest streets. We started with crispy chicken skin with a squeeze of lime – think gourmet pork scratchings. Stuffed snub nose chilli stuffed with minced chicken and prawn is big enough to share, plump and aromatic, and, despite its name, only mildly hot. Then a pandan-leaf wrapped parcel of miang kham scallop, beautifully silky and smoky. Mains kept the balance between comfort and freshness. Short rib beef in five-spice ‘paloh’ with grated salted egg yolk is the stand-out. Flake-apart meat in a rich gravy was positively swoon-worthy. While southern-style yellow curry with crab, mellow and light, saucy with coconut, was a hug in a bowl. Together they showed how Platapian’s menu celebrates the whole of Thai cuisine. From the drinks list, Tom Yum-tini and a whisky sour are smart, punchy and in simpatico with the elegance of the restaurant, while desserts use Thai ingredients to twist familiar Western dishes, such as a smooth pandan crème brûlée. olive tip: When we went on a Thursday night, Platapian was packed, buzzing and loud – so if you want to talk ask for a counter seat near the front. pataralondon.com Keith Kendrick Taco Bros, East Finchley For taco lovers who’ll cross town for them Taco Bros is the sort of neighbourhood place you wander into for something simple and good, then find yourself staying longer than planned, thinking, okay, we’ll order another round. Taco Bros grew from a taco truck and still carries that scrappy charm, though the new bricks and mortar space has its own warmth. Family photos, bright ceiling decorations and the hum of early evening give it the feel of a home kitchen that happens to pour margaritas. I started with the guacamole, which arrived with a heap of crisp tortilla chips and a bowl of green that kept a little of its rustic chunkiness, the sort that feels properly made by hand rather than fussed with. The fish tacos took me straight back to their market days: batter shatter-crisp, slaw bright, tortillas full of flavour. The lamb birria came with a jus that was rich and intensely fatty in the most comforting way, sharpened by white onion and lime. Even the chicken enchiladas felt like a quiet hug, all smoke and gentle heat. The margarita list is long and playful. I went for mango, sweet and sunny, though I found myself wishing it was a touch more sour. There’s a full spread of Mexican soft drink brand Jarritos too, including flavours I’d never seen before. I finished with churros, hot and crisp with enough dulce de leche to make me grateful for the walk home. tacobrosldn.co.uk Legado, Shoreditch For regional Spanish cuisine in a contemporary setting At Nieves Barragán Mohacho (chef-owner of Michelin-starred Sabor)’s regional Spanish restaurant, a bar complete with Estrella Galicia’s signature ceramic taps welcomes guests into the contemporary space. A wine rack spans almost an entire exposed brick wall and prime kitchen pass seats watch over chefs adding finishing touches to no fewer than nine menu sections. We were advised to order three to four dishes each, including two starters, a rice dish and a dessert to share. Things kicked off strong with pan tomate – the olive oil doused tomato toast elevated with dry-cured beef – and tempura-coated piquillo peppers filled with creamy goat’s cheese. Seafood highlights included glistening pan-fried squid stuffed with girolles set on a rich squid ink bisque and tiny fried camarones coated in glossy egg yolk. The ibérico lagarto pork atop rice cooked in earthy mushroom stock is a menu must-order, while sliced tomatoes topped with red mullet bottarga and shaved cured blue fin tuna heart were a surprise highlight. Dessert left us gleeful – saffron honey ice cream quenelle with white chocolate mousse and caramelised pistachios – and we’ll be back to try the Segovian sponge cake. Unique 3-sip amuse-bouche cocktails are served in quirky cups – Spanish bitter aperitif Bonanto is balanced with sharp, sweet rhubarb. To follow, there are multiple sangria options, plenty of Spanish-style gin tonics (re:strong!) and a regional wine and sherry list including my favourite albariño grape from Rías Baixas. olive tip: I would usually order suckling pig if on the menu, and the one at Sabor is epic, but we opted for the more manageable (for two) half pig’s head, deep-fried and sprinkled with jamón powder, which we pulled apart to find juicy treasures. legadorestaurants.com Alex Crossley Canal, Westbourne Park Tucked down a cobbled mews between Notting Hill and Maida Vale, and built into the new Mason & Fifth hotel-apartment complex, Canal is one of London’s most exciting recent openings. Its towpath perch on the Grand Union Canal sets a modern, urban stage for food that’s both precise and packed with flavour. Provenance is proudly front and centre – sourdough comes from Layla, while charcuterie like jamón and Mangalitza sausages arrive from Coombeshead Farm. The menu is cleverly pitched so there’s something for everyone. A fat diner-style cheeseburger bucks the smashburger trend and feels all the better for it, while scallops arrive plump and caramelised, served in their shells with ’nduja butter begging to be mopped up with that sourdough. Crab on toast is so fresh it tastes like it’s just left the boat, and chicken with sweetcorn and girolles might be the most impressive chicken breast you’ll eat this year. Desserts are just as memorable – a tiramisu that’s unapologetically boozy, and a brown butter almond cake with sour cherries that’s indulgent yet balanced. With seasoned owners and staff who know their craft, Canal feels confident from the start – we can’t wait to return. mason-fifth.com Barney Desmazery The Lavery For modern European cooking inside a Grade II-listed townhouse The Lavery is an elegant space in smart South Kensington, where you can expect chic yet understated Georgian interiors: high ceilings, wooden floors, beautiful fireplaces and floor-to-ceiling windows. The menu and service are as chic as the interiors – no surprise given that the kitchen is led by Yohei Furuhashi, former chef at River Café, Petersham Nurseries and Toklas. His menu showcases Mediterranean seasonality while incorporating ingredients from the British Isles. Starters strike a beautiful balance of fresh flavours, from grilled squid with fresh borlotti, rocket and chilli to Honeymoon melon with shaved courgette and almonds. Standout mains include Scottish sea trout baked in fig leaves and sea salt served with pea, fennel and basil aïoli, and linguine with lobster in tomato and vodka sauce. Desserts are worth lingering over, from a feather-light bean chocolate mousse to the perfect almond tart accompanied by strawberries and cream. You’ll be well looked after from the moment you arrive to the last lick of the dessert spoon. For excellent value, visit for the three-course set lunch menu for £38 per person. thelavery.co.uk Lily Barclay Noisy Oyster, Shoreditch For modern bistro dishes Noisy Oyster is a new opening from the team behind Soho’s Firebird – a sleek modern bistro with a focus on sustainable seafood and killer martinis. The room is an airy, industrial space with shiny, steel-topped tables and huge open windows leading onto a large buzzy terrace. Kick things off with one of the cult icy-cold mini martinis – the Oyster, made with Sapling gin, Otto’s vermouth and an oyster leaf garnish is great paired with a smoked tomato water and oyster dressed with crème fraîche. From the playful menu, small plate wins include a raw scallop crudo topped with zingy pickled raspberries and basil oil, and a dish of rich, creamy stracciatella topped with anchovies and almond pesto (don’t forget to order the light, puffy focaccia to spoon this onto). Guinness bread topped with a generous slick of whipped butter and piled with Yarra Valley red caviar is the obvious Instagrammable dish but still delicious. Standout larger plates include a crunchy breaded hake with a seasonal peach panzanella, and monkfish skewers with XO sauce, topped with a melting, paper-thin slice of lardo. We tried a twist on rum baba for dessert soaked in fig leaf bourbon and served with crème anglaise and strawberries but the soft-serve Jersey ice cream topped with caviar is intriguing enough for a repeat visit. noisyoysterlondon.co.uk Janine Ratcliffe Lai Rai, Peckham For modern Vietnamese Meet friends for fuss-free snacks and cold beers at this dinky new-school Vietnamese. With the name Lai Rai meaning ‘little by little’, the space is a homage to Vietnamese canteens, with a buttery colour palette, neon lighting and slick red stools. By day it serves bánh mì and Vietnamese coffee, by evening the menu evolves into playful twists on familiar Vietnamese flavours – you won't find any bowls of pho here. Smaller plates include crunchy prawn lollies on sugarcane stalks and a light, multicoloured papaya jellyfish salad with lumps of pineapple, charred tomatoes, fresh Viet herbs and peanuts, mopped clean with charred bánh mì chunks. Larger dishes feature a twice-cooked chicken leg atop a herby dressing and grilled betel leaf beef, bathed in a smoky pool of house-made coffee barbecue jus. Vietnamese-inspired cocktails include the Xoài Kick, a bracing mix of tequila, mango, red chillies and fruit salt, and a Viet coffee-laced vodka martini. Finish with a scoop of freshly churned ice cream made by small south London manufacturer Clingy Wrap, with unique flavours such as fish sauce vanilla caramel and kumquat cucumber sorbet. If you're looking for something altogether unexpected, you’ll find it here. lairai.london Helen Salter SINO, Notting Hill For Ukrainian fine dining Sino means “hay” in Ukrainian, but the word goes much deeper to encapsulate the country’s agricultural roots. At their contemporary fine-dining restaurant on All Saints Road, Ukrainian duo Polina Sychova and Eugene Korolev weave this concept into everything they do, from the menu to striking ceiling installation and handcrafted crockery. Interiors are soft, natural and warm – brushed clay walls, beige banquettes and linen drapes dressing the windows. Chef Eugene combines his Michelin-starred experience and Ukrainian heritage to revamp traditional dishes – bitesize potato and sorrel waffles stacked with sorrel-flecked soured cream and smoked pike roe; chicken kyiv presented in a bonbon-style sphere bursting with wild garlic butter alongside bison grass mash; and beef cheek dumplings bathing in oxtail broth spiced with star anise, fragrant with lemon verbena and umami-rich thanks to smoked mushroom garum. Don’t miss tartare-style marinated aubergine served with Kyyrma smoked cheese flatbread and spiced adjika dip to start. Elevated desserts include a riff on honey cake; its layers of honey and buckwheat flour crowned with buckwheat chocolate in a moat of whipped walnut sauce. Eastern European wines hail from Kyiv, Georgia’s Kakheti region and the Black Sea, while Ana Reznik’s cocktails play on nostalgic flavours from a childhood in Ukraine. sinorestaurant.co.uk Alex Crossley Tatar Bunar, Shoreditch For Ukrainian cuisine Southern Ukrainian cuisine is in the spotlight at this likeable new restaurant from Ukrainian restaurateurs Alex Cooper and Anna Andriienko. Named after Alex’s hometown of Tatarbunary, the menu is inspired by old family traditions and his grandmother’s recipes, as well as the richness of Bessarabian produce. There’s also a wine list packed with Ukrainian producers. Interiors are a soothing lush blend of creamy neutrals and natural textures with materials sourced from Eastern Europe such as reclaimed Carpathian wood and Bessarabian stone, with ceramics from Kyiv artist Svetlana Sholomitska. We start with forshmak: chunky dollops of finely chopped herring pâté on onion bread, the oily richness balanced by a disc of pink pickled onion and smoked soured cream. Bryndza, a crumbly, tangy, feta-like sheep’s milk cheese is topped with luscious slices of sweet tomato and sprat fillets for a caprese-like dish with an Eastern Europe spin. On the heartier side, banush – cornmeal and cream porridge – is velvety, cheesy and comforting, topped with meaty wild mushrooms. Mains come from the grill: we tried charred, juicy lamb chop served with yogurt, flavoursome pickled tomatoes and a bright and spicy sauce made with red peppers, the latter of which also accompanies tender, delicate grilled rabbit. Desserts are robust and rib-sticking. Crème brûlée comes with a secret surprise inside – a sturdy steamed varenyk dumpling filled with soft cheese – while crêpes come with three individual fillings: poppy seed sauce, blackcurrant jam and cottage cheese, all swimming in creamy custard. Tatar Bunar is generous to a fault – portions are sizeable, the glasses of wine are large and the flavours are bold and unapologetic. A refreshing addition to London's restaurant scene. @tatarbunar.london Hannah Guinness Lupa, Highbury For a neighbourhood Italian This cute neighbourhood corner spot is inspired by the osterias of Rome – where co-owner Ed Templeton lived for a time – with their comforting, simple dishes and casual, friendly atmosphere. The bright, breezy room feels fresh but keeps lots of the original charm intact, including the beautiful, almost floor to ceiling original windows. Chef Naz Hassan's menu is concise and a table of four could happily order most of the menu. Kick off with a punchy martini, heady with Malfy gin and fig leaf liqueur, and a snack of courgette flower stuffed with burrata, deep-fried and served on an umami courgette purée boosted with dashi. There are some pasta greatest hits – try the cacio e pepe with handmade pici in a generous slick of peppery, cheesy sauce. Mains include a thick slice of porchetta stuffed with apricot, gorgeously burnished with deep, crunchy crackling – order the creamy green vignarola veg as a perfect accompaniment. There are only two puddings but the tiramisu delivers – feather light and creamy with a proper kick of booze. Punters may book hoping to see a glimpse of co-owner Theo James (of White Lotus fame) but they’ll come back for the spot-on cooking. lupa.restaurant Janine Ratcliffe Osteria Angelina, Shoreditch For Italian and Japanese fusion Angelina in Dalston offers a unique fusion of Italian and Japanese cooking. This new offshoot caters to a more casual set-up, with tasting menus swapped out for a pick-and-mix of Italian-Japanese dishes and an open kitchen and pasta studio to be viewed from marble-topped tables. Small plates are split into pane (hello nori-flecked focaccia), insalate including Usman's magic mirin and star anise tricolore tomato salad, crudos, such as tuna belly with citrussy ponzu and wasabi, and fritti featuring courgette flowers stuffed with creamy miso and caramelised onion ricotta, topped with hazelnut furikake for extra crunch. Pastas are a highlight – the menu advises to order a couple and we agree. Kombu and truffle laced tortellini contrasts slow-cooked duck ragu and crunchy lotus flower pieces on folds of fazzoletti. Larger grill dishes include umami-rich grilled chicken in taro sauce slathered in miso butter, best paired with okonomiyaki-style shoestring fries. Finish with bruléed black sesame cheesecake or cheese panna cotta topped with caviar for a savoury burst. Playful combinations continue on the drinks list – Riso and Rosmarino pairs cynar and rosemary with sake and cucumber, while smoked pineapple and Sicilian smoked cactus distillate create a zippy Shinjuku Albatross. Lesser spotlighted regional Italian wines sit alongside sakes and a selection of digestifs including grappas and Japanese whiskies. angelina.london/osteria Alex Crossley Town, Covent Garden Stevie Parle's latest swishy, provenance-focused restaurant Any restaurant menu that opens with an extensive snack selection is on the money for London 2025: fried sage leaves with heather honey and chilli are a cocktail’s perfect partner. At Town, the new venue from Stevie Parle and Jonathan Downey the vibe is very much a modern take on early James Bond cool and classy. There’s a standalone bar (cocktails by Kevin Armstrong of Satan’s Whiskers fame, 3 choices of martini natch) which draws the eye on one side, while the space age pass to the kitchen is ringed in glowing baize green and every bit of detail from the ceiling to the frosted glasses shouts ‘attention’. The provenance of produce is equally hot. Wildfarmed beef is raised for the restaurant and served wine-cured with crunchy candied walnuts and posh ‘cheese whizz’, as steaks or in fat form as the cooking medium for pink fir potatoes. There are Seasalter clams swimming in sherry or as a main, curried with cod; Isle of Mull scallops with smoked chilli butter and Kentish asparagus swathed in Mangalista lardo. Kasmiri saffron risotto is served with bone marrow to be scooped out and stirred through, mighty rich in flavour and a show-off on the plate. Buttermilk pudding with roasted nespole (loquats) or a scoop of Todoli lemon and Thai basil sorbet make a refreshing end. There is of course an excellent wine list. town.restaurant Lulu Grimes Kerfield Arms, Camberwell Popular NE London pub team heads south of the river The team behind Islington favourite The Baring has kept things stripped back and simple at their new south London pub. The Victorian-era building boasts plenty of space to play with – for now, a bar with independent brews on tap divides a casual area dedicated to drinkers and walk-ins and a dining room for the full shebang, with the promise of outdoor seating and a private dining room next to the first-floor kitchen to come. To kick things off, a silky house martini combines olive oil fat washed Sapling gin and fennel-infused vermouth, while cherry blossom liqueur and sparkling rosé add spring flourish to a French 75. Order a portion of fried pizza dough fingers to scoop up taramasalata while you peruse the menu of seasonal stars. In the inaugural shish kebab, melting squiggles of squid and lardo slivers are barbecued on a skewer and served in spiced pul biber butter along with shaved fennel and whispy monk’s beard. Half a beefy smoked Marmande tomato, topped with cubes of smoked ricotta and pangrattato crumb, is balanced in a moat of zippy tomato consommé. For mains, grilled monkfish comes with tiny waxy Jersey Royals and friarielli greens in a rich shrimp bisque, while four pink, succulent Yorkshire hogget chops are nestled into a plate of violet artichokes, plump broad beans, creamy bagna cauda and rich hogget reduction. The short but strong dessert menu includes strawberry and chamomile custard doughnuts and chocolate olive oil mousse with rustic brownie and crème fraîche. thekerfieldarms.co.uk Alex Crossley Pyro, London Bridge Greek restaurant where smoke and fire do the talking Just a few minutes from Borough Market is Pyro, a light-filled, open-kitchen spot where smoke and fire do the heavy lifting. Headed up by Yiannis Mexis, formerly of Hide, the Greek menu leans into open-flame cooking with balance and control. Potato pita is essential: pillowy, dotted with onion seeds and perfect for scooping up cooling tzatziki or smoky aubergine topped with walnuts and pomegranate. A pork pluma skewer is rich, roasted and herb-packed, expertly balanced with sour apple. Sea bream crudo, by contrast, is light and bright – green olive and caper leaf add savoury lift, while precisely diced chillies lend occasional, welcome heat. The octopus is soft and lightly charred, paired with a spiced red wine sauce and silky yellow split pea. Lamb, cooked over alder wood, is standout – tender, subtly sweet, served with lamb-fat flatbreads and an anchovy-spiked yogurt. Sides more than pull their weight: crisp layered potatoes with garlicky skordalia and a confidently simple lettuce salad. Portokalopita, soaked with citrus syrup and served with a perfumed citrus leaf ice cream, ends things on a bright note. Pyro is a restaurant that lets fire do the talking but knows when to let something stay cool, crisp or raw. It’s considered and deeply satisfying. pyrorestaurant.co.uk Lydia Anderson The Knave of Clubs, Shoreditch Lovingly restored pub with rotisserie kitchen The Knave of Clubs is back on the East End pub scene with a proper old-school flourish. Originally serving the bird market traders on Club Row in the 1880s, this local continued life as an East End boozer until the 1990s when it underwent a full transformation into French restaurant Les Trois Garçons for a decade or so. The pub has been lovingly restored on the ground floor, huge wall mirrors have been unearthed and polished, the bar revamped and a toastie, oyster, snack and rotisserie chicken menu installed. The driving force behind this redo are Benjy Leibowitz (ex NYC’s NoMad), James Dye (The Camberwell Arms) and Patrick Powell (ex Allegra) all of whom are committed to the local feel of the pub – it’s one big room with the rotisserie kitchen at the end open. You can book for lunch (advised, it’s popular) and evenings are walk-in, dogs are welcome and the vibe is buzzy. Try the prawn scotch eggs and venison sausage rolls to start. There's only one dessert, a very good chocolate mousse. theknaveofclubs.co.uk Lulu Grimes Bubala, King's Cross Popular Middle Eastern small plate restaurant opens its third site The third spot from Marc Summers (Berber & Q) boasts its very own wood-fired oven, as well as a bright, light-filled space and high ceilings – unlike its cosier counterparts in Soho and Shoreditch – and with shelves adorned with pickle jars and greenery. Trust that ‘Bubala Knows Best’ with the vegetarian or vegan set menus. Start with a pickle plate – three types all in different brines – closely followed by the superlative dips. The beyond silky baba ganoush comes with a well of curry leaf oil and toasted pine nuts, alongside a sleek fava bean dip with vadouvan. Smoky laffa bread is fresh off the grill and wonderfully charred. The oyster mushroom skewer with tamari and coriander seed is a stand-out dish with umami meatiness that will convince even the staunchest mushroom naysayers. Crisp falafel with a vibrant green centre is served with tangy mango pickle amba and sumac onions. Even something as simple as a side salad is injected with Bubala flair – oak and mustard leaves with onion, pomegranate molasses and mint is a refreshing complement to the deep-fried falafel, charred, smoky vegetables and creamy dips. Wash it all down with a spicy margarita rimmed with flecks of char from the grill. bubala.co.uk Emily Marten Dove, Notting Hill A Jackson Boxer revamp into a true neighbourhood gem Jackson Boxer's latest venture is a revamp on the same site as seafood restaurant Orasay – a place the chef wants to be familiar and accessible but still feel special and playful. This is evident in the menu, where comforting classics are peppered with pops of intrigue, such as octopus gildas to start alongside fino sherry and tonic. The springy, deep-fried potato pizzette comes laden with folds of mortadella and a huge burrata ball, while the yuzu-laced tuna tostada makes a lighter option. Next, four helmeted grilled Atlantic prawns in a zippy smoked garlic and black lime butter and Iberiko tomatoes drizzled in spicy chilli oil and soured cream. The must-order (if you can, only 10 are made for each service) is an umami-rich hunk of a burger formed from 50-day, dry-aged beef rib cap, brisket and chuck, flame-grilled with gorgonzola dolce and champagne-braised Lyonnaise onions so caramelised and melded together in a glazed potato roll… best accompanied with crunchy duck fat chips. Those too late are rewarded instead with steamed hake and Romana courgette in a rich champagne broth or sharing cuts such as wood-roast chicken in Café de Paris butter, 30-day Tamworth pork double loin chop and 50-day Highland beef sirloin chop. Finish with a retro-chic fior di latte soft serve doused in peppery olive oil with chewy oat cookies on the side. Paired with Orasay’s original interiors, elegant yet unfussy in style with earthy-hued linens and exposed brick walls, this next iteration takes Dove into true neighbourhood haunt territory. dove.london Alex Crossley Crunch, Soho Smash-hit sandwiches go upmarket in this slick new all-day Soho spot Landing on the buzzy corner of Dean Street and Old Compton Street, Crunch brings its cult-followed Spitalfields sandwiches to a permanent Soho address – and the result is part elevated sandwich shop, part stainless steel lined sandwich theatre. The vibe is sleek but casual, with polished metal counters, high stools and a front-row view of the sandwich station, where flat iron steaks hit the grill and brioche buns get that signature toast. The menu is concise but clever – the main event is the Soho-exclusive steak sandwich, a decadent, juicy, grass-fed beef patty in golden, crisp-edged brioche. Don’t skip sides: the thousand-layer crispy potatoes with bloody mary ketchup are addictive, and the lasagne bites are punchy, deep-fried delights. For something sweet, the deep-fried french toast made from brioche offcuts, custard-soaked and topped with apple, chocolate chunks and dulce de leche, is reason enough to linger. The service is fast and friendly, perfect for solo diners perched at the bar or a quick lunch with a friend. A breakfast menu is on the way, too – worth keeping an eye on for early morning indulgence. sandwichuprising.com Best new London restaurant openings in late 2024 Babbo, St John's Wood Smart yet relaxed Italian dining, serving updated trattoria classics with finesse Tucked away in St John’s Wood, Babbo brings a refined yet welcoming modern touch to classic Italian trattoria fare. The space is elegant yet relaxed, striking the right balance between sophistication and comfort. Service is warm and efficient, making it the kind of place for both special occasions and relaxed midweek dinners. The meal begins with a generous bread basket – five types, all fresh and warm from the oven. Starters include perfectly cooked zucchini fritti and a clever take on veal tonnato, studded with hazelnuts for added depth and texture. The lobster spaghetti is rich with a deeply flavoured bisque base and vibrant tomato notes, while the grilled lamb chops arrive perfectly pink and full of smoky char. On the side, potatoes al forno steal the show, extra crunchy and moreish. As well as a full menu Babbo also serves pizza which, although we didn’t try them on this visit, looked signature thin and crisp. From the desserts, tiramisu is the standout – light, creamy and classic. Pair it with a strong espresso or a glass of vin santo to finish. With a well-balanced menu of updated Italian classics, Babbo offers some of the best trattoria-style cooking in London – refined, comforting and worth returning for. babborestaurant.co.uk Barney Desmazery AngloThai, Marylebone Thai flavours with British ingredients AngloThai is the debut restaurant from husband and wife team John and Desiree Chantarasak, and marks the culmination of a nearly four-year site search after numerous highly successful pop-ups and residencies. Now the couple bring their unique vision for contemporary Thai-British cuisine to the historic Seymour Place in London’s vibrant Marylebone neighbourhood. À la carte by day and tasting menu by night, the menu is full of dishes that blend the bold flavours of Thailand with modern presentation and innovative techniques, while still respecting traditional cooking styles. It also adapts to the seasonal offerings of the British Isles, and is paired with a wine list that champions thoughtful producers and superior craftsmanship. This 44-cover restaurant was one of the hottest tables of 2024 and the momentum is carrying over to 2025, with AngloThai winning it's first Michelin star. anglothai.co.uk Janine Ratcliffe Silva, Mayfair For varied all-day dining Silva, the Latin word for forest, carries this theme in its interiors with woodland friezes and natural tones in the airy dining room and snug bar. A compact, seasonal menu takes inspiration from the Med and Japan with a raw section designed to wake up the palate – wild sea bass crudo, jalapeño, yuzu and ginger dressing has delicate tang. Classic steak tartare is made hearty by topping a chunky potato waffle and a signature dish of crispy egg with girolle and parmesan sauce is also a generous starter. Lighter mains like roasted cauliflower with butter beans and caponata or steamed halibut are balanced by the more robust Creedy Carver duck with coco beans and addictive rosemary and garlic roasties. Silva’s busy kitchen team, headed up by Slawomir Sawicki, can be seen through the street-facing windows below a pretty striped awning on the increasingly restaurant-focussed Bruton Place. Open all day from breakfast to dinner. silvarestaurant.co.uk Leydi, Holborn Viaduct Sharing plates from Istanbul Leydi sees the return of the talented Selin Kiazim (previously Oklava) to London and brings with it the spirit of Istanbul, serving an all-day menu oozing with Turkish favourites but with Selin’s unique modern twist. Launched opposite the Old Bailey in an area in Farringdon with an abundance of history, the restaurant pays tribute to the vibrancy of Istanbul’s eating culture, featuring generous, celebratory Turkish food meant to be shared and savoured. The drinks menu boasts bespoke creations from Kevin Patnode, two-time winner of the best bartender in Turkey, in addition to a transcontinental wine list with a distinctive Turkish influence. With décor featuring plush banquettes, warm lighting and understated references to Istanbul’s architecture and interiors that can only be described as elegant, this intimate 90-cover dining room sets its sights on charming the capital. leydilondon.com Janine Ratcliffe The Grill at The Hero, Maida Vale Sustainably sourced meat and fish cooked over open fire Find this beautiful dining room above one of west London’s busiest locals. While the pub serves great-value comfort food, like sausage and mash, and cheese and onion pie, The Grill’s focus is on sustainably sourced meat and fish cooked over open fire. Gutsy dishes like sweetbreads with lobster gravy make it a destination, alongside grilled monkfish tail, turbot, pork chop or ribeye with elevated sides of honeyed chicory, jerusalem artichokes and excellent chips. For the best experience, book a booth facing the open kitchen but, wherever you sit, the unique waiter station which stretches the entire length of the room, makes you feel part of the action. Wood panels and leather seating create a grown-up, calming atmosphere. theherow9.com/the-grill/ Christine Hayes Wildflowers, Belgravia Stylish restaurant and wine bar with a Med focus Partners Laura Hart, whose background is in interior and floral design, and chef Aaron Potter, have created a space that’s welcoming and stylish in equal measure. Med-inspired dishes are cooked over coal in an open kitchen, cocktails are imaginative twists on classics (try a melon negroni or almost-dirty martini) and its understated design encourages you to relax and linger over your food. The menu includes little intrigues like Romeo & Juliets (cheese and quince one-bites) and the best versions of trending dishes like sugar pit pork chop, Galician ex-dairy ribeye with smoked bone marrow rice and fior di latte gelato – a soft serve that’s reminiscent of Wimpy, in the best possible way. Upstairs the light-filled wine bar offers a decent selection by the glass and Italian-style snacks, making it an ideal place to swing by when shopping at nearby King’s Road or Pimlico Road’s upscale interior design quarter. wildflowersrestaurant.co.uk Christine Hayes Fonda, Heddon Street For regional Mexican dishes Santiago Lastra, chef-owner of Mexican fine dining restaurant Kol, brings a more informal option to Heddon Street. A fonda is a Mexican family-run inn, to which there are nods in the décor (earthy tones, handwoven fabrics and Mexican crafts), regional Mexican menu and homely touches, including a trio of salsas – smoky salsa macha, lively gooseberry salsa verde and fiery salsa roja – brought to the table for customers to apply to dishes as they wish. Kick off with Yucatan ground pumpkin seed speciality sikil pak topped with vibrant green pine oil and deep-fried totopos. Specials include tuna belly crudo in soy, sesame and fermented gooseberry dressing; and quesadillas stuffed with Oaxacan-style cheese from Canterbury. The traditional clay comal is the kitchen’s focal point and the dedicated comal list includes Marmite beer-battered baja fish dressed with chipotle mayo, Hispi cabbage and pistachio guacamole. Costra is an elevated tribute to CDMX post-clubbing snacks – 30-day aged rib-eye topped with grilled spenwood and manchego infused with macha sauce.Moving on to sharing mains – black sesame, short rib stock and chocolate paste take centre stage in the rich, 60-ingredient short rib mole. Charred adobo-laced monkfish comes on soft Ratte potatoes doused in Arbol chilli infused butter. For dessert, Santi's American cheesecake topped with blackcurrant compote is a popular choice; steamed corn tamales are doused in butterscotch cream and silky chocolate sorbet laced with Oaxacan oak-smoked pasilla chilli oil is a surprising highlight. Santiago’s commitment to sourcing British ingredients continues through to cocktails – think fresh gooseberry juice and rhubarb liqueur to add zing to margaritas; and rhubarb palomas rimmed with gooseberry salt. Honcho the sloth guides guests down to the basement dining room and agave bar for a mezcal night cap. fondalondon.com Alex Crossley Three Little Darlings, Chelsea 'English bistro' with an all-day menu Jason and Irha Atherton’s ‘English bistro’ is named for their three daughters. Its all-day menu appeals equally to families, to groups of friends and for date nights, with seasonal variations and sensible pricing to encourage regular visits. Choose your spot on the covered terrace off Pavilion Road or take a seat in front of the pass and watch the chefs cooking on the Josper grill. Sharing small plates include woodfired fermented Orkney scallop with fermented miso; char siu Shorthorn short ribs; octopus with butter bean aïoli and Yukon Gold cooked in the embers with Lincolnshire Poacher – a posh twist on a cheesy baked potato. The quality of ingredients elevates the experience and surprising twists are designed to delight: monkfish tail is served with a wedge of vibrant Baches citrus; and skate wing schnitzel with katsu sauce and lime. Desserts range from comforting to luxe – bun and butter pudding or soft serve topped with caviar. The wine-curious may be rewarded with a trip to the secret cellar. threedarlingslondon.com Christine Hayes Stay tuned for more reviews of new restaurants in London Reviews by Janine Ratcliffe, Christine Hayes, Lulu Grimes, Helen Salter, Hannah Guinness, Alex Crossley Check out more London restaurant guides here: Best restaurants in Marylebone Best restaurants in Mayfair Best restaurants in Fitzrovia Best restaurants near Oxford Street Best restaurants in Brixton Best restaurants in Notting Hill Best restaurants in Shoreditch Best restaurants in Camden Best restaurants in Covent Garden Best restaurants in Soho Best restaurants in London Bridge Best restaurants in Hackney Best restaurants in Paddington
See our top picks for the best Indian restaurants in London. All-day Bombay cafes serving bacon and egg naan rolls, to Indian-style cocktails and bowl-shaped pancakes
Looking for an Indian restaurant in London that isn't your average curry house? From regional Indian street food at Masala Zone to popular traditional Bombay cafe empire Dishoom. Here are the top best Indian restaurants in the capital... Next discover Bangladeshi food: how to cook like a local. Now find out how to celebrate Holi. For something extra special, try one of the best chef's table experiences in the UK, then find out the best female-owned restaurants in the U.K. Now discover the best Japanese restaurants in the UK, the best dining experiences in London and the most romantic restaurants in London. Best Indian restaurants in London Brigadiers, City Brigadiers isn’t your typical City restaurant. It isn’t your typical pub, either. It’s a pulsing combination of both – a warren of rooms tucked inside Bloomberg Arcade, some all chatter and screens, others set for quieter dining. And with food from JKS Restaurants, the group behind Michelin-starred Gymkhana, expectations run high – and deliver. We began with the original BBQ butter chicken wings. New dishes have been added to the menu but these creamy, smoky, finger-licking starters are the essential order. Guided by the team, we then went for a tumbling mountain of prawn, soft-shell crab and squid Tellicherry fry with tomato pachadi – crisp, peppery and lifted by sharp chutney. A chunky skewer of Afghani lamb ribeye kebab followed, juicy and aromatic with cardamom and charcoal. For mains, the Sikandari kid goat shoulder came off the bone with a nudge of the fork, its spiced crust balanced by lacha paratha and sweet onions. The wood-roasted sea bream Pollichathu, wrapped in banana leaf, opened in a fragrant puff of curry leaf and coconut. And the dal makhani – thick, buttery, slow-cooked – tied everything together. Dessert is a nod to comfort: gulab jamun crème brûlée – super-sweet deep-fried milk balls nestling in a satisfyingly tappable caramel custard. Drinks are cold and calculated to cut through the spice: a lychee martini to start, a 4th Rifles IPA for the grilled dishes and a crisp sauvignon blanc from Turnbull & Thomas, Marlborough, to make the occasion even more special. olive tip: Brigadiers has recently opened The Outpost, a covered and heated terrace inspired by army bar culture – perfect for lingering long after the plates are cleared, rain or shine. brigadierslondon.com Kokum, East Dulwich This smart neighbourhood restaurant in East Dulwich serves some of the highest quality Indian cooking this side of the river. It should be no surprise, given the restaurant is the vision of Sanjay Gour (ex-head chef at Gymkhana) and Simeron Lily Patel – co-founders of the Michelin-rated Dastaan and Black Salt Sheen. Far from Michelin prices, Kokum offers a competitively priced menu that bridges delicate starters with bowls of gravy-laden curries and flaky lachha paratha. Dahi puri saw dainty layers of potato, chickpea and moong sprout submerged in deceptively fiery layers of tang, sweet and spice. Pickled and charred tandoori roast cauliflower sat in a pool of hot makhani sauce, jewelled with pockets of mint and coriander chutney. The curries that followed accommodate to the neighbourhood clientele, with deep bowls of lamb rogan josh and lemongrass-infused makrut lime prawns. A side of dal makhani – eight-hour slow-cooked black lentils – countered the mains with its dark sultriness. There’s plenty of choice to drink too – the sharp cocktail list includes an espresso martini spiced with chai liqueur, and a punchy strawberry blush, pepped with tamarind spicy vodka and lengthened with basil tonic. olive tip: Desserts are as crucial to the experience, from the rich kulfi made with Iranian pistachio to the rum-flambéed gulab jamun, tempered with vanilla ice cream. kokumlondon.com Thecha, Poplar Just five minutes from the towering offices of Canary Wharf, tucked inside Poplar’s Lansbury Heritage Hotel, Thecha delivers a knockout tour of Maharashtra with some of the boldest Indian flavours in the capital. The soft pink-grey interior whispers boutique hotel brunch but what lands on the table is straight from the streets of Mumbai. Thecha takes its name from a green chilli chutney – here paired with blisteringly grilled paneer. Sabudana vada (crisp sago and peanut fritters) and kothimbir vadi (crisp coriander and gram fritters) set the tone: regional snacks with punch. Chilli-laden Chicken 65 – so called because of the year it was created – is a must. Try it in the biryani for a complete meal, while the dabi dal fry (slow-cooked creamy lentils) soothes with buttery warmth. From the mains, Kolhapuri mutton rasa (tender chunks in curry broth) and prawn gassi (coastal coconut prawn curry) are full-throttle flavour bombs. But the star? The butter chicken chops. Cooked in the tandoor and drenched in velvety makhani sauce, it’s worth a visit for this alone. To drink, choose cooling solkadhi, made with kokum and coconut milk – refreshing with a hint of saltiness. And make sure you have room for mango shrikhand, a creamy sweet yogurt dessert that’s a perfect balance to the heat of this dining experience. instagram.com/its_thecha Trishna, Marylebone The secret’s been out for a while that eating early is how to bag the best tables and enjoy the greatest food at prices that won’t make your jaw hit the floor. And that is certainly the case at this Marylebone stalwart. Slip in for an early lunch or dinner and you’ll be rewarded with the Taste of Trishna menu: a stellar-value four-course showcase of South Indian coastal flavours for £55. Open since 2008, Trishna helped put regional Indian cooking on the map in London. It has unveiled a refreshed look with soft light blues, warm walnut tones and handcrafted rattan accents, inspired by India’s southern coastal towns. After thrilling your taste buds with a crisp trio of papads and tangy chutneys, choose from a range of perfectly portioned and beautifully presented plates of expertly spiced specialties. Soft shell crab masala with a quenelle of delicate white meat is divine. Duck chutney seekh is smoky, spicy and perfectly charred, cut through with pineapple chutney. Mains come with a thali-style spread of rice, breads, dhal and a sensational chettinad potato roast, with options such as wild mushroom biryani (elevated by truffle and pink peppercorn raita), deeply savoury gongura lamb with a sour, pickled edge, or baby aubergine vathagal, its creamy texture complemented by crunchy peanuts. Desserts nod to tradition with flair: a mango malai, layered with lassi cream and makrut lime jujubes, is both delicate and decadent. trishnalondon.com The Great Indian, Archway When a restaurant says it’s great, it better have the chops to prove it, and fortunately, The Great Indian has some of the best tandoori lamb chops we’ve ever tried. Meltingly soft, thrillingly juicy and spiked with mustard-chilli they are the dish chef Mohit most wants The Great Indian to be known for. Also the degh dal makhani, cooked for 48 hours until it’s unctuously creamy. And the butter chicken – golf ball-sized chunks of fall-apart grilled thighs, bathed in a silky, smoky sauce with a touch of tang. Set in a quiet leafy street in Archway, The Great Indian is the kind of pub everyone would like in their own neighbourhood. The foliage-decorated ceiling and wallpaper depicting scenes of India sets the inviting, relaxed vibe. It bustles with families with young children (there’s also a great kids’ menu), office workers, seekers of the new and locals. Like us, they come to see what’s so great about the place. Then they come again to sample surprising creations such as coastal chilli-tamarind prawns dosa, lamb ghee roast in a roti taco, and pork belly sliders, plus exciting meat-free dishes, including tangy chilli paneer and jackfruit biryani. thegreatindian.uk Dishoom Permit Room, Notting Hill Dishoom’s new all-day pub-café brings the vibes of Mumbai to Notting Hill. The space is bright, art-filled and fizzing with energy. By day, it teems with families, tourists and local workers; by night, a vintage jukebox hums in the background; and at weekends DJs spin vinyl. The playful menu is a medley of Dishoom classics and new bar-friendly bites. Crispy spinach chaat arrives as a tower of crunch, spice and tang. Chakli, the coiled, spiced snack, is crisp and moreish. Chicken Pick-Me-Ups –drumsticks with Indo-Chinese seasoning – are sticky, fiery and impossible to eat quietly. Prawn moilee is delicately sweet, lifted by turmeric and curry leaf, while the legendary house black daal remains the warm hug you hope it will be. Mattar paneer delivers soft cubes of cheese and bright green peas in a richly spiced tomato gravy. Drinks are as crucial to the experience as the food (this is a pub, after all). The Sober Summer negroni is bright and herbal, while the old fashioned is coconut-washed and smooth as silk. Dishoom IPA makes a bold, hoppy companion to the food, along with local beers and considered soft drinks. permitroom.co.uk Vatavaran, Knighstbridge Inspired by the Indian Himalayas, the latest restaurant from Rohit Ghai, takes its name from the Sanskrit translation of atmosphere. Spread across four floors in the heart of Knightsbridge, each has its own vibe: Brook and Ridge are buzzy and casual, while Meadow and Shikhar (meaning peak) create more of a special occasion ambience. As with Rohit’s other venues, Manthan and Kutir, the food combines classic Indian flavours with a modern twist. Start with the indori poha chaat – plump dumplings with tamarind and pressed rice – a satisfying explosion of crunch, tang and spice; and ghati masala prawns, fried in crispy batter and dressed with peanuts and sesame. Come with a crowd for the mains – they’re spectacular. Lamb shank biriyani arrives with a pastry lid which is cracked open at the table, before the soft meat is shredded from the bone. Butter chicken is among the best we’ve ever tried (in a fiercely competitive field): succulent chicken thigh meat in a smoky-sweet, vine tomato sauce. Neelgiri lobster is exceptional, served in a fresh coriander sauce with the tail shell decorating the plate. To drink, try Nisha, a refreshing gin with cucumber and elderflower, then finish with Lava, a chocolate and cardamom kulfi with meringue. vatavaran.uk Patri, Northfields The lively shack-chic Indian restaurant, Patri, has two west London sites and offers an extensive street food menu but we headed to the Northfields branch which does the UK's biggest thali. This immense, Insta-grabbing feast needs to be booked in advance and is a steal at £105, as it would easily feed five or six adults. While chef prepares the dishes that make up the thali, you are brought two pomegranate-topped palate popping starters of different chaats and a big jug of mango lassi. Chef brings the thali to your table ceremoniously and talks you through all 29 dishes which have been curated of as a culinary adventure around India. The thali offerings change daily and are divided into starters, which include spicy chicken samosas and the lightest pani puri we’ve eaten, then there’s tandoori, from which we loved the seekh kebabs, and the signature mains with the more familiar curries, including a knock-out keema and, from the sides, there’s rice and dhals, and everything is served with two types of fluffy naan. Claiming the UK’s biggest thali is an attention grabber that got us through the door but the quality of the cooking at Patri makes it a must return. patri.co.uk Colonel Saab, Trafalgar Square A pigeon’s stroll from Trafalgar Square, Colonel Saab is an oasis of calm and comfort away from the hustle and bustle. Adorning the walls of the grand dining space – magnificent rose-coloured chandeliers create a wow factor – are family photos, art and the framed military uniform of Indian soldier Colonel Manbeer Choudhary, the paternal inspiration behind the celebration of the diversity of cuisine from the subcontinent. Chef Sohan Bhandari’s menu is inspired by the colonel’s postings around India, so step into his shoes and try the £80 tasting menu. Marwad’s Raj Kachori – a crunchy ball of spiced chickpeas and potato with creamy, sweet and tart sauces with black lime chaat masala – brings drama. Then comes the highlight, a choice of curries, from Sunday lamb to Nadan fish or beetroot and lotus kofta, served thali-style with raita, rice, dak and naan accompaniments. colonelsaab.co.uk Kutir, Chelsea Walking into Kutir is akin to entering someone’s home – someone with an eye for interior design and a penchant for elegance. With its mint green and floral walls and dramatic chandeliers, the Georgian townhouse – in a smart side street off Chelsea’s King’s Road – oozes intimacy. Come here with a loved one or friend for a special occasion. But, most of all, come for Rohit Ghai’s cooking – an extensive exploration of India’s vast food heritage. Tasting menus are the way to go, with or without wine pairings. The signature Expedition menu (£75 per person) delivers six dishes, plus tadka dal, breads and rice. Plump, pink prawns are elevated with a dusting of coconut, sesame and peanuts. The richness of salmon tikka – so tender it’s spoonable – is off-set by pickled radish. Tandoori lamb chop – the star of the menu – is as fat as a cushion and just as luxurious, marinated with smoky black cumin. Then, choose between the nation’s favourite, chicken tikka masala, or spicy duck madras, with a hint of tamarind sourness. Finish with an unctuous date pecan pudding or refreshing pineapple and coconut. Apparently, the 2022 British Restaurant of the Year winner attracts the likes of Ed Sheeran, James Blunt, Pierce Brosnan and Roger Federer. Clearly, celebs of impeccable taste! kutir.co.uk Pravaas, South Kensington Pravaas, explains chef-patron Shilpa Dandekar, means journey, and the menu at this stylish, intimate venue, a two-minute walk from South Kensington underground station, is the culmination of her journey from 21 years as a chef. It’s a challenge to come up with something new and exciting to stand out in the increasingly crowded scene of high quality Indian restaurants in the capital, but Shilpa pulls it off: an eclectic mix of dishes that combine the skills she acquired working alongside Sriram Aylur at Quilon and Raymond Blanc, before opening her successful Pure Indian Cooking in Fulham. You’ll want to come to Pravaas again and again, but for your first visit, plump for Shilpa’s tasting menu. Pani puri shots get the tastebuds carnival started: crisp mini bowls in which to pour minty zingy water. Seared scallops come next, hot with vinegary tartness, tender yet crunchy. There are so many more dishes to rave about: patra chaat, a kaleidoscope of colour, texture, sweet and sour, starring colocasia leaves; venison chops, charred outside, pink in the middle, and served with fiery Rajastani laal maas sauce – as succulent as any lamb chops we’ve eaten anywhere; dal makhani, smoky and silky, cooked and stirred for 24 hours. If Pravaas has a signature, it’s Wasabi chicken tikka. Marinated first in ginger, garlic and lemon juice, then again in wasabi and coconut, before cooking in the clay oven and served with green chutney, this is the dish you simply must try– an original creation from the brilliant inventiveness of Shilpa. Pravaas: well worth making the journey for. pravaas.com Babur, Forest Hill Established in 1985 by Emdad Rahman, the tiger that adorns the front of the restaurant makes it a neighbourhood landmark, as does its modern take on Indian dishes and cocktails. Inside, the restaurant interior is one of exposed brick, with walls adorned with art from Indian and local artists. The kitchen is led by head chef Jiwan Lal and sous chef Praveen Kumar Gupta – both formerly of the Oberoi Hotel Group. An ever-evolving menu of specials is updated throughout the year, alongside an à la carte menu that pairs each dish with a wine recommendation. Customers who sign up to the Tasting Group on the website can become involved in menu development by attending afternoon sessions during which new menus are honed, in exchange for honest feedback. The meal starts with poppadoms and a range of homemade pickles, including a fiery ginger and chilli chutney and tamarind and raisin chutney. Starters of Dhungri lamb tikka and shakerkandi ki chaat – a Punjabi sweet potato with pomegranate in salted pasty – are highlights. For mains, there is Gulnar jalpari, a Babur take on the North Indian Holi dish, with spiced prawns rolled in lemon sole on a sweet red pepper sauce. The theatrical cumin chocolate fondant with salted caramel gelato is the perfect finish, and there’s an extensive cocktail list curated by mixologist Rupam Talukdar – the whitegroni is full of aromatics, while the saffron gimlet is tart and sharp. babur.info The Tamil Prince, Islington Nestled among the leafy terraced streets of Islington, away from the bustle of central London, Tamil Prince is a gem: an airy, spacious new restaurant serving some of the finest Indian food in the capital. Created by ex-Roti King chef Prince Durairaj, it marries the classic British pub vibe (and excellent beers) with the food of Tamil Nadu from the chef’s childhood in South India. The menu is effortlessly navigable: six small plates; five large plates; four desserts. From the smalls, onion bhajis are a must, a billowy tangle of crunchy battered rings that melt in the mouth. Also choose pulled beef uttapam – a savoury dosa topped with unctuous meat – is a perfect sponge for mopping up fiery chilli coconut chutney. A small pot of glossy, smoky dhal makhani completes the set before going on to the main event, the grills. Go for the lamb chops – served as four, they are gorgeously tender, charred and crisp; nibble at the bone until clean. Then the dish with the biggest jaw-drop factor – a platter of three gigantic tiger prawns, like small lobsters, plump with sweet briny meat. Mango lassi for dessert refreshes the palate. Tamil Prince has a range of Indian cocktails and bottled beers but, on a warm summer evening, try a pint of cold, light 3.8% ABV Harbour Daymer Extra Pale Ale. thetamilprince.com BiBi, Mayfair Head chef Chet Sharma's selection menu is the must-try at his intimate Mayfair restaurant, comprising a dozen sharing plates using produce from the UK and India created with sustainability at its core. Formerly development chef of the JKS group (Gymkhana, Trishna, Brigadiers, etc), Sharma's BiBi – an affectionate term for grandmother in parts of India – is the realisation of his dream to open his own restaurant. To snack on, tangy Wookey Hole cheese papads have a melting yet crunchy texture; creamy Carlingford oyster pachadi is a refreshing segue to sweet, spicy, salty and sour chaats, including nashpati bhel – grains topped with a crunchy frozen pear granita – and raw Belted Galloway beef pepper fry, hot with lots of black pepper. From the counter, marvel at the theatre of chefs grilling on the sigree: aged Swaledale lamb chops, as soft as butter, with a subtle smokiness. And our star among many stars, Sharmaji's Lahori chicken: gorgeously tender chicken breast with a delicate creamy sauce made with whey that has been reduced to the point of caramelisation and then mixed with ground cashews and spices. Then finish with choc ice on a stick-style kulfis. bibirestaurants.com Empire Empire, Notting Hill The Indian disco era of the 1970s inspired this new opening from Harneet Baweja (Gunpowder). Eat traditional dishes such as bihari boti kebab, tandoori broccoli and chicken malai tikka from the open grill serenaded by 70s Bollywood bangers from the bespoke jukebox. For the ultimate in luxe dining order the showstopping lobster dum biryani to share, £42 – complete with the crustacean’s head emerging from the pastry lid. empire-empire.restaurant Farzi, Haymarket Located in the heart of theatre-land, Farzi specialises in modern Indian fusion, using fish and meat sourced within the British Isles. The menu is divided into sections ‘small plates’ ‘grill’ and ‘curries’, as well as chaat and sides, with a good value pre-theatre menu also available. Seasonal rotating dishes include palak paneer handi, wagyu beef kadak seekh kebab and Awadhi lamb shank korma. Be sure to check out the range of cocktails created by mixologists behind the jazz-age bar, with concoctions such as the ‘smoked old fashioned’, presented in a glass orb in a nod to Farzi’s theatrical surroundings. farzilondon.com Pahli Hill, Fitzrovia Named after one of Mumbai’s oldest neighbourhoods, Pahli Hill’s menu reflects its diverse culinary heritage, offering regional dishes from all over India. Colourful original Indian artwork and fabrics, booth-seating and a view into the open kitchen give the restaurant a contemporary feel, while its Bandra Bhai basement bar delights in its dimly lit, smuggler’s-den vibe. With a tequila-based saffron cocktail in hand, graze on papadi chat, a dip of contrasting flavours and textures, including pumpkin, spiced yogurt, wheat crackers and sev (crispy gram flour noodles), tamarind chutney and vibrant pops of pomegranate. Bangalore-born chef Avinash Shashidhara’s experience in high-end UK restaurants is clear in this menu, which utilises top-quality British ingredients. Mangalore buns – two warm, bready pockets – are served with a generous pile of spiced Scottish crab. Highlights from the tandoor include monkfish with monk's beard (greens grown in Tuscany); chicken tikka with cucumber noodles, mint and horseradish, and Cornish lamb cutlets. The pumpkin kofta is light and fragrant, and for a veggie feast, it's perfect served with a long ‘paper dosa’ or flaky flatbread, tomato and coconut chutneys, and sambar of radish and drumstick (seed pods from the Moringa tree, which are reminiscent in texture to okra. Ask about the trick to eating them). pahlihillbandrabhai.com/london-restaurant Madhu, Richmond Madhu's contemporary Indian restaurant has expanded from central London's Harvey Nichols to a smart neighbourhood setting in Richmond. The glass-fronted brasserie is full of cosy booths as well a bar overlooking an impressive tandoor oven and robata grill, where you can spy on an array of beautiful looking food before you order. Presentation is excellent, with food served in copper dishes with an array of interesting garnishes. For a very moreish appetiser try the palak patta chaat – British samphire and battered spinach leaves with chilli, turmeric, fresh coriander, yogurt and taramind, or the succulent robata chops that are marinated in aromatic spices and can be cut with a butter knife. Other highlights include king prawns cooked in a creamy coconut curry with ginger, mustard seeds and curry leaves. There's also vegetarian and vegan thalis on offer, which looked very generous when coming out of the kitchen. Finish off with a cooling badam kulfi – Indian ice cream made with clotted cream and almonds for a very satisfying end to the meal. madhusbrasserie.com Heritage, West Dulwich A new restaurant in leafy West Dulwich, Heritage is a welcome addition to the neighbourhood from Dayashankar Sharma, previously head chef at Michelin-starred Tamarind. Inside, the restaurant is spacious and elegant, with gold accents adding a modern feel, much like the menu, where you’ll find contemporary versions of dishes from all over India. From the small plates, start with the venison badal jaam (if you usually find game too strong, you’ll love this) — grilled aubergine topped with a fiery tomato sauce, cooling yogurt, and spiced venison. If you’ve got room, share the paneer and pineapple kebab — thick slices of paneer pair perfectly with sweet pineapple. Highlights from the mains include murgh makani, tender chicken in a tomato and fenugreek sauce; Kashmiri lamb spiced with saffron; and the most indulgent version of dahl mhakani we’ve tried — outrageously creamy, it’s not to be missed. The floral tones of the pulao rice steeped in rose water cut through the richness of the other dishes, and be sure to order a truffle naan. Subtly flavoured, it has just the right amount of umami, and is a great vehicle for mopping up all those delicious sauces. heritagedulwich.co.uk Madhu's of Mayfair, Piccadilly ‘Special occasion’ are the first words that spring to mind when you walk into the ornate dining room of Madhu’s of Mayfair, complete with enormous chandeliers, rococo-style architecture and marble tables. But far from feeling formal, the vibe is fun and friendly, bustling with birthday parties, tourists and after-work businessfolk. The design is the vision of Madhu’s founder Sanjay Anand, who wanted to "create an experience which engages each of the senses — ‘not just taste’." The food comes from creative chef Poonam Ball — Sanjay’s sister. She oversees the menus of the Madhu group’s four restaurants. It’s Indian, but with a Kenyan twist, including recipes handed down through four generations from her Nairobi-born mother Krishna and her father Jagdish Kumar Anand (nicknamed Madhu). Choose the signature dishes: palak patta chaat, a pile of crunchy marsh samphire and crispy spinach with warming spices and tangy chutneys; nyamah choma, succulent prime cut lamb ribs marinated in chilli and lemon; and Madhu’s machi’s — whole seabass in an onion and carom seed marinade — which is ‘special occasion’ luxurious. madhus.co.uk Chourangi, Marble Arch Named after the district of Calcutta (as the owners refer to the city we now call Kolkata) and translating as ‘crossroads’, the food at Chouranghi is a curation of ‘unexplored’ surprises from the British, Dutch, Armenian, French, Portuguese and Chinese who have influenced its cuisine. There are a lot of high-end Indian restaurants in London, each with its own ‘well, that was worth the money/must go back again’ dish. At this bright and vibrant open-plan venue, where you can watch the theatre of the chefs at work from the street, it’s the black dal. Simmered overnight until the urad lentils break down, then finished with spices and butter, it’s an unctuous, creamy, perfectly spiced bowl of deliciousness. In the hands of Indian restaurateurs Anjan Chatterjee and Aditya Ghosh, the dishes are simple yet intricately flavoured. Kamal kakdi chaat is a creamy, crunchy concoction with a fiery hit of sweet chilli-soy-jaggery. Nizami makai tikka, cooked with soft cheese, has an aromatic finish from aamada (mango ginger). Chingri cutlets (beaten-out breaded prawns) are dense and ‘meaty’ while another star is blistering paanch phoran, Welsh rack of lamb seasoned with ‘Calcutta five-spice’ And have you heard of hilsa — Calcutta’s queen of fish? Think white salmon — soft, oily and flake-apart. chourangi.co.uk Bombay Delight, Wimbledon A newly opened sister restaurant of Mumbai Delight in Vauxhall, Bombay Delight is a larger, more vibrant venue with a stylish bar area, space for private functions, and walls decorated with elephants and framed pictures of old Bombay. The offerings aren't dissimilar to its sister's, but there are some new dishes, including the excellent tiltala jhinga appetiser – juicy king prawns coated in a crisp sesame seed and gram flour batter, with a spiced mayo for dipping. Poppadoms arrive with two moreish dips – subtle beetroot, fresh mint and coriander, and a mango chutney with a hint of chilli. The menu doesn't stray too far from well-loved classics, and the rich and creamy BBC (Bombay butter chicken) is proof that this restaurant does them well, with the freshest ingredients and no colourings. Finish with the Indian sweet, gulab jamun, soaked in sugar syrup and served with a smooth vanilla ice cream, along with one of the mocktail concoctions, such as a fresh masala thums-up with mint, cumin and black salt. South London-dwellers will be happy this restaurant has arrived on their doorstep. bombaydelight.co.uk Fatt Pundit, Covent Garden Street food sharing plates with Indo-Chinese heritage storytelling is all part of a great restaurant experience these days, and the staff at Fatt Pundit are very happy to share. Pull up a chair! First, there’s the name Fatt Pundit, a combination of the common Chinese surname with the Indian word for scholar. Then the story of the Hakka Chinese immigrants who created a new cuisine by combining traditional Chinese cooking techniques with the spices of India. Set in an industrial chic dining room, there’s a buzzy vibe, with queues outside. But don’t rush: there’s so much to savour. Momos – steamed dumplings – are a must (especially the spiced kid goat). Crackling spinach is a refreshing take on a chaat with sweet yogurt, date & plum sauce and pomegranate. Hakka chilli paneer lettuce cups are filled with tongue-tingling Szechuan pepper-spiced paneer, showcasing the Indo-Chinese influences. Unique to the Maiden Lane outlet (there’s another branch in Soho) are crunchy pepper soft shell crab – blisteringly hot; sweet, caramelised Kolkata chilli duck, accompanied by pancakes and cucumber strips and plump chunks of rib-eye steak with chillies and roasted cashews.fattpundit.co.uk Manthan, Mayfair With a pedigree chef like Rohit Ghai, expectations of the food at his new Mayfair restaurant are high – and it doesn't disappoint. Rohit led the kitchens at Gymkhana and Trishna before opening his first venue, Kutir, in Chelsea. At Manthan – the Hindu word meaning to churn and reflect – Rohit takes inspiration from his mother’s cooking and the street food of India. The Maddox Street dining room is long and wood-panelled, adorned with beautiful paintings of exotic flowers. Even at lunchtime it feels romantic, and the sharing dishes reflect that vibe. If you’re here for the first time, have an overview experience and choose two dishes from the gali ka khana (street food) section, one from rassedar (curries), one from chapata chops & tikka, plus a couple of sides. To start, ghati masala prawns are plump and tender, coated with sesame, peanut and coconut for a satisfying crispy crunch. Jackfruit tacos are a revelation – almost meaty in texture, stuffed into fluffy rice lentil pancakes with southern spice and chutney. Fall-off-the-bone lamb ossobuco sits in a silky, satisfying sauce flavoured with jaffa spices and curry leaf, while sarson chicken, tangy and hot with mustard and chilli, is as soft as butter. If you have room for dessert, opt for the classic trip of sweet laddoo, sticky gulab jamun and creamy srikhand. manthanmayfair.co.uk Benares, Mayfair When spiced corn street snacks arrive under a bonsai tree, you know you’re in for a memorable experience. That feeling grows when a Porlock Bay oyster with a jewel-like cured sea bream chaat is presented on beach-like pebbles, swathed in dry ice to mimic sea mist. The bonsai tree is a salute to roadside vendors in India who seek shade beneath trees, and it’s the creation of executive chef Sameer Taneja, who regained a Michelin star for the Berkeley Square restaurant. But this culinary theatre is no gimmick: the dishes are as delicious to eat as they are a treat for the eyes. They’re part of a new eight-course tasting menu which takes influences from throughout the Indian subcontinent, using British ingredients. Too many dishes to list here, but stand-outs include soft-as-butter tandoori muntjac – venison cooked in a spicy marinade served with a garlic yogurt and chilli chutney; fragrant baby poussin tikka masala; and, to finish, sweet rasmalai, a quintessential milk-based dessert popular in eastern India. There’s also a vegetarian tasting menu, featuring baked golden vegetable kofta in rich cashew nut and kashmiri saffron korma. Make sure you’re not in a hurry: this is a three-hour dining experience, as relaxing as it is special. benaresrestaurant.com Dishoom, across London Inspired by the all-day Irani cafés that were an integral part of Bombay life, there are now seven branches of Dishoom in London (and a branch in Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester), each serving Bombay breakfast, lunch, afternoon chai and dinner. Breakfasts at Dishoom have won a cult following. Not least for the bacon naan rolls – crisp bacon wrapped in tandoor-charred naan with a dollop of chilli tomato jam and cream cheese. Pair with a breakfast lassi or house chai. dishoom.com Kanishka, Mayfair Focussing on the Seven Sister States as well as nods to Nepal and Bangladesh, Kanishka is a modern Indian restaurant serving a series of tasting menus and a la carte. Start with the Gantok momos (steamed Nepalese dumplings), proudly billed as made ‘in-house’ which was telling by the skins being light but still with some bite to them. We also had chef’s chicken tikka pie which wasn’t accredited to a region but still an exemplary piece of proper pie making with well-cooked puff pastry encasing juicy chunks of well marinated chicken. For mains we went with the lightly spiced and coconut sauced Kanishka seafood curry and underutilised goat cooked slowly until fork tender in a rogan josh style. Once we added generous serving of puffy paratha, fresh kachumba and signature black dhal to our order we were too full for dessert but the dark chocolate sphere with orange chocolate cream and spiced caramel sauce seemed to be impressing our neighbours with its table-side server theatrics. kanishkarestaurant.co.uk Darjeeling Express, Carnaby Street Darjeeling Express started life as a supper club in the Kensington home of Kolkata-born Asma Khan but her restaurant on the top floor inside Kingly Court is now at the forefront of the London’s Indian food scene. What is most striking about the kitchen at Darjeeling Express is that the chefs are all female, something that’s still a rarity in restaurants. These women come from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures but none of them have worked in professional kitchens before. Asma lets them cook in the restaurant on Sundays to help them to get used to working in a professional environment. darjeeling-express.com Hoppers, Soho and Marylebone Named after the lacy, bowl-shaped pancakes that are a staple of Sri Lanka, Hoppers has quickly established itself as one of London’s hippest hangouts. From the can-do-no-wrong team behind Michelin-starred Gymkhana, Hoppers references the food of southern India and Sri Lanka. There’s a succinct menu starring traditional hoppers: light fermented rice and lentil pancake bowls, with a softly steamed egg and a selection of confidently spiced karis. Load up on the ‘short eats’, though. Mutton rolls are like crunchy cigars – with a golden crumb, shredded gamey meat and lightly spiced tomato chutney. Bone marrow is so seductively sauced that you would be forgiven for refusing to share. The best, perhaps, are buttered devilled shrimps: juicy and fiery. There are fab and refreshing cocktails also. hopperslondon.com Try our egg hoppers recipe here... Kricket, Brixton and Soho Contemporary and cool, Kricket specialises in Indian small plates using local vegetables along with fish and meat sourced within the British Isles. Expect to queue at these no-reservations restaurants but dishes like samphire pakoras and Keralan fried chicken are more than worth the wait. We have the recipe for Kricket’s kichri. Kedgeree as we know it was an adaptation of the original recipe for kichri, which consists of rice and lentils. You can use poached eggs rather than raw egg yolks, if you like. kricket.co.uk Try Kricket's kichri recipe here... Masala Zone, across London Excellent regional Indian street food – thalis, grills, curries and biryanis – explains the success of Masala Zone, which now has seven restaurants dotted around the capital. Best-sellers include spicy squid bhaji and the ghee roast duck. masalazone.com Looking for inspirational Indian recipes? Check out our best ever Indian recipes.
Warm up the season with comforting, wintry dishes that bring big flavour to the table, perfect for slow evenings, good company and a touch of fireside calm
As the days draw in and the cold settles, the kitchen becomes a place to linger. This is the moment for generous flavours, slow-cooked comfort and dishes that invite people to gather. Whether you’re craving something rich and bubbling from the oven or a bowl that brings instant warmth, these recipes lean into the pleasure of winter cooking – relaxed, rustic and made for sharing. Light the candles, pour a glass of something good and settle in. Looking for more cosy cooking inspiration? Try our comfort food recipes, hearty pasta recipes and traybake dinner recipes for further inspiration. Cosy winter feasting recipes Ham hock, spinach and cheeseboard lasagne Turn your leftover festive cheese and ham into a lush, crowd-pleasing lasagne. Mix and match whatever you have in the fridge: grated cheddar, gruyère or any firm cheese; softer cheeses can be crumbled into the sauce. The ricotta provides a smooth, creamy base for the cooked ham, creating easy layers with plenty of flavour. Bring it to the table bubbling hot and serve with a crisp green salad for balance. Slow roast rotisserie-style chicken with chicken fat potatoes This uses a classic three-turn method in which the chicken is cooked first on either side, then on its back. This helps redistribute the juices and keeps the flesh extra moist. Soy butter and mushroom pappardelle Meaty mushrooms and mouth-warming sichuan peppercorns make this a lovely bowl of comfort. Using pappardelle or tagliatelle as a substitute for flat noodles works well and gives you that essential slippery mouthfeel. Chocolate truffle cake This flourless cake is rich, indulgent and perfect for after dinner. The cake puffs up then falls after baking, creating a delicious fudgy texture. We’ve given it a seasonal makeover, piling it high with chestnut cream, borrowed from the classic Alpine dessert.
Skin-on roasted almonds dictate the flavour in this colourful fish curry. This sauce would also work well with chicken, prawns or paneer
Try our skin-boosting almond salmon curry, then discover Caribbean fish curry, Sri Lankan fish curry or panch phoron fish curry in pineapple and coconut sauce. Skin-boosting almond salmon curry recipe
Irish spice-rubbed loin of venison in pancetta with whiskey sauce
The sharpness of the whiskey cuts through the cream in the sauce, and the mushrooms add depth of flavour. I love this served with mashed carrots and swede
Try our Irish spice-rubbed loin of venison in pancetta with whiskey sauce, then check out our venison stew, venison curry, venison pie, venison steaks, venison burgers and more venison recipes. In this recipe the venison loin is gently rolled in herbs and spices before being wrapped in pancetta, and browned before being roasted. The sharpness of the whiskey cuts through the cream in the sauce, and the mushrooms add depth of flavour. The sauce can be made in advance and swirled around in the pan after the venison has been cooked. I love this served with mashed carrots and swede. Cook, preserver, baker and author Cherie Denham says: "To truly understand Irish food you need to cook in simplicity, shaped by the land and sea, and passed down through generations. It’s not about fancy techniques or elaborate dishes, it’s about honest, comforting, down-to-earth food made with care and shared with others. "I was brought up on a farm, nestled in County Tyrone in rural N Ireland. My Mummy, Aunties and Grannies cooked with what they had to hand: potatoes pulled from the garden, wild berries gathered from the hedgerows, soda bread fresh from the oven and homemade butter. The press was stocked with homemade jellies and jams made from crab apples and rosehips, damsons, blackberries and strawberries. "The flavours are clean and comforting, and the ingredients aren’t trendy, they’re traditional. Creamy dairy from grass-fed cows, tender lamb, wild Atlantic seafood and earthy root veg. I often went to the local market with mummy on a Wednesday after school if we ran out of vegetables. She’d buy a huge sack of potatoes, a bag of carrots and a few swedes or turnips, as they were called, still all with mud on them. Apples and rhubarb were very popular, and used predominantly to make tarts. Bramley apples have a Protected Geographical Indication in County Armagh, which is affectionately known as The Orchard County. "To cook here is to respect the seasons and surroundings – it’s warming the teapot before pouring the first cup, baking something sweet and welcoming for when guests are due, and always sending them home with a loaf of fresh bread, jar of jam or tin of biscuits. It’s food that brings people together, whether it’s a Sunday dinner, bowl of stew at the kitchen table or cup of tea and soda bread in your hand. Eating and drinking in Ireland is welcoming, unpretentious and full of warmth – whether it’s a pint of Guinness in the local pub or oysters by the sea, the experience is always the same, rooted in place, people and tradition." Recipes extracted from The Irish Kitchen by Cherie Denham (£30, Montgomery Press). Photographs: Andrew Montgomery. Recipes are sent by the publisher and not retested by us. Irish spice-rubbed loin of venison in pancetta with whiskey sauce recipe
Kimchi adds a spicy, tangy kick to this easy shakshuka, served with plenty of crusty bread
Try our kimchi and beans shakshuka, then discover our spring greens shakshuka, vegan shakshuka, eggs benedict, chorizo brunch eggs and more of the best breakfast ideas with eggs. Kimchi and beans shakshuka recipe
No-churn Irish coffee ice cream with hazelnut and chocolate biscuits
I find that no-churn ice creams can taste too sweet so I made this one pretty punchy. The alcohol dilutes the sweetness of the condensed milk and the coffee gives it an intense depth and strength in flavour
Try our no-churn Irish coffee ice cream with hazelnut and chocolate biscuits, then check out our our Baileys ice cream, spiced coffee kulfi, iced coffee, iced latte and iced caramel coffee. For another coffee-flavoured dessert, try our espresso martini cake pops. Cook, preserver, baker and author Cherie Denham says: "To truly understand Irish food you need to cook in simplicity, shaped by the land and sea, and passed down through generations. It’s not about fancy techniques or elaborate dishes, it’s about honest, comforting, down-to-earth food made with care and shared with others. "I was brought up on a farm, nestled in County Tyrone in rural N Ireland. My Mummy, Aunties and Grannies cooked with what they had to hand: potatoes pulled from the garden, wild berries gathered from the hedgerows, soda bread fresh from the oven and homemade butter. The press was stocked with homemade jellies and jams made from crab apples and rosehips, damsons, blackberries and strawberries. "The flavours are clean and comforting, and the ingredients aren’t trendy, they’re traditional. Creamy dairy from grass-fed cows, tender lamb, wild Atlantic seafood and earthy root veg. I often went to the local market with mummy on a Wednesday after school if we ran out of vegetables. She’d buy a huge sack of potatoes, a bag of carrots and a few swedes or turnips, as they were called, still all with mud on them. Apples and rhubarb were very popular, and used predominantly to make tarts. Bramley apples have a Protected Geographical Indication in County Armagh, which is affectionately known as The Orchard County. "To cook here is to respect the seasons and surroundings – it’s warming the teapot before pouring the first cup, baking something sweet and welcoming for when guests are due, and always sending them home with a loaf of fresh bread, jar of jam or tin of biscuits. It’s food that brings people together, whether it’s a Sunday dinner, bowl of stew at the kitchen table or cup of tea and soda bread in your hand. Eating and drinking in Ireland is welcoming, unpretentious and full of warmth – whether it’s a pint of Guinness in the local pub or oysters by the sea, the experience is always the same, rooted in place, people and tradition." Recipes extracted from The Irish Kitchen by Cherie Denham (£30, Montgomery Press). Photographs: Andrew Montgomery. Recipes are sent by the publisher and not retested by us. No-churn Irish coffee ice cream with hazelnut and chocolate biscuits recipe
Spiced veggie one-pot with crispy halloumi and sprout crumb
Celebrate winter veg (think parsnips and brussels sprouts) in this comforting one-pot, flavoured with rose harissa and ras el hanout
Try our spiced veggie one-pot with crispy halloumi and sprout crumb, then discover braised courgettes and cannellini beans, one-pot creamy lemon and spinach ravioli, gigantes plaki and one-pot vegetarian pasta. Swap the chard for spinach if you prefer. Gordal or queen chickpeas are bigger and more flavoursome but you can use two cans of standard chickpeas if you prefer. Spiced veggie one-pot with crispy halloumi and sprout crumb recipe
Umami chicken soup with coriander chilli oil
Skip the chicken poaching and use up any left-over turkey meat, if you prefer. Simply shred and stir in at the end until piping hot
Try our umami chicken soup with coriander chilli oil, then discover cock-a-leekie soup, chicken and rice soup, vegetable soup, cauliflower soup and more soup recipes. Umami chicken soup with coriander chilli oil recipe
Irish roast boned shoulder of pork with rosemary and bay scented apples and spiced apple sauce
Pork and apples are a classic pairing, with the sharp acidity of apples cutting through the richness of the meat. This boneless spare rib is roasted high to get a crisp, crunchy crackling, then low and slow for soft, tender meat
Try our Irish roast boned shoulder of pork with rosemary and bay scented apples and spiced apple sauce, then discover our pork hotpot, roast pork with hasselback potatoes, perfect roast pork belly and more pork recipes. Pork and apples are a classic pairing, with the sharp acidity of apples cutting through the richness of the meat. This boneless spare rib is roasted high to get a crisp, crunchy crackling, then low and slow for soft, tender meat. The boned spare rib (which is cut from the shoulder) has layers of fat running through it, which melt during the cooking process, making the meat incredibly succulent. Cook, preserver, baker and author Cherie Denham says: "To truly understand Irish food you need to cook in simplicity, shaped by the land and sea, and passed down through generations. It’s not about fancy techniques or elaborate dishes, it’s about honest, comforting, down-to-earth food made with care and shared with others. "I was brought up on a farm, nestled in County Tyrone in rural N Ireland. My Mummy, Aunties and Grannies cooked with what they had to hand: potatoes pulled from the garden, wild berries gathered from the hedgerows, soda bread fresh from the oven and homemade butter. The press was stocked with homemade jellies and jams made from crab apples and rosehips, damsons, blackberries and strawberries. "The flavours are clean and comforting, and the ingredients aren’t trendy, they’re traditional. Creamy dairy from grass-fed cows, tender lamb, wild Atlantic seafood and earthy root veg. I often went to the local market with mummy on a Wednesday after school if we ran out of vegetables. She’d buy a huge sack of potatoes, a bag of carrots and a few swedes or turnips, as they were called, still all with mud on them. Apples and rhubarb were very popular, and used predominantly to make tarts. Bramley apples have a Protected Geographical Indication in County Armagh, which is affectionately known as The Orchard County. "To cook here is to respect the seasons and surroundings – it’s warming the teapot before pouring the first cup, baking something sweet and welcoming for when guests are due, and always sending them home with a loaf of fresh bread, jar of jam or tin of biscuits. It’s food that brings people together, whether it’s a Sunday dinner, bowl of stew at the kitchen table or cup of tea and soda bread in your hand. Eating and drinking in Ireland is welcoming, unpretentious and full of warmth – whether it’s a pint of Guinness in the local pub or oysters by the sea, the experience is always the same, rooted in place, people and tradition." Recipes extracted from The Irish Kitchen by Cherie Denham (£30, Montgomery Press). Photographs: Andrew Montgomery. Recipes are sent by the publisher and not retested by us. Irish roast boned shoulder of pork with rosemary and bay scented apples and spiced apple sauce recipe
It’s a man’s world – and it’s bad for our health
From drug tests to getting a diagnosis, here’s how women have it harder than men when it comes to our health. But when can being a woman actually work in your favour?
Other articles you might find interesting include our exploration of whether we're going backwards on body confidence, why we don't need to worry about testosterone in our diet, and 7 ways your diet can ease hormone symptoms. If you’ve not seen the viral video ‘Female Body’ by Canadian musical comic Farideh, go and watch it right now. It’s a hilarious, honest and heartbreaking look at how women are often dismissed by their doctors – and an absolute banger. Farideh says she was inspired to write it after struggling to get a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) for 10 years. “I was told I was making it up or I’d just put on a lot of weight because I was fat,” she says. But an incident with her husband in their local A&E made her even more determined to write the song. “He was struggling to lift up his hand or walk up the stairs, which was really weird, so I thought we should take him to the ER,” she says. “But I started to prepare for that trip like he was a woman – I was saying ‘They’re probably not going to believe you’ and ‘You’re going to have to assert yourself’ but the complete opposite happened. “He walked into that ER, and it was like he was Beyoncé! The nurses rushed over to help him. The doctors were like ‘We’re going to run this test, and we’re going to run that test’. No one thought he was making it up. No one thought he was being silly. No one told him he was just anxious because he was a busy dad. And it made me realise no woman on earth would get the same treatment.” The heart of the matter Luckily, Farideh’s husband was fine, and she ended up creating an anthem for all unheard women across the globe. And that’s a lot of women; even though it’s 2025 we are still getting the short end of the stick when it comes to our health. The publication of <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Invisible-Women-Exposing-World-Designed/dp/1784706280/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GVN5VKCEHMKM&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.rnVE971KQg8HvK2K3u_oRywHM9SxpMMVf35SM9FYrddQGwrWEQbLrEwkBQHdV9DVzPonChAsuCRsyFt9sUa0HH39ZqfDxjIHbIu6I1LVMoUcifoVGE_0zLbpMxk0pBru8CNIbDBf38Gk-1iSDxO8oS7eQpFUuIQKo4K7lgb6Wjn4ggxs_e_-TZw5j4xs_FFQ6wZSlgg5KgmkZjgy0GbRnnuUhFXbM4_E7PFa8RAx3dA.OHL25AeF3ZBvnn-aFYlwuk98cyFc4AngpHs0c432Iuw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Invisible+Women&qid=1764608214&sprefix=invisible+women%2Caps%2C233&sr=8-1&tag=olivemag-21&ascsubtag=olivemagazine-276032" rel="sponsored" target="_blank">Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, six years ago, shocked people with its data-backed exposé of how medical research, doctors’ opinions, getting a diagnosis and a whole lot more are stacked against women’s health – it only become law that women must be included in clinical trials, including drug tests, in America in 1993. One of the most shocking realisations for many of us is that men and women have different symptoms during a heart attack. While men might show up with agonising chest and arm pain, women are more likely to have stomach pain, nausea, breathlessness and fatigue. Women do get chest pain but it’s not so obvious and may be just one of their symptoms. The result is we’re more likely to be misdiagnosed, so vital treatment is delayed and our chances of successful recovery are dramatically reduced. In fact, women are up to three times more likely to die following a heart attack thanks to unequal medical treatment. But since this research was revealed, things have got better – right? Melanie Evans*, a physiotherapist, says, “I work in a multidisciplinary practice. One day, a man came in to see the GP complaining of bad indigestion and arm pain. He got a full cardiac workup that day, which included blood tests, an ECG, X-rays and an ultrasound of his heart. “A week later, his wife came in complaining of indigestion, arm pain and generally feeling unwell, but she was also feeling quite anxious. The GP dismissed her symptoms as mental health issues and gave her antidepressants. She died three weeks later after suffering a massive heart attack.” Pain and pleasure Even getting a prescription for simple painkillers can be a problem if you’re a woman. A recent study found doctors and other healthcare staff frequently underestimate women’s pain, believing women are oversensitive to pain or will exaggerate how much pain they’re in. This means they often ‘under-treat’ it, either prescribing low-dose painkillers or offering women psychological treatments instead. But at least doctors are happy to prescribe us the contraceptive pill. The only downside to all that sexual freedom is the lone responsibility of taking it every day and a long list of potential side-effects including acne, weight gain, anxiety and depression. However, a male contraceptive pill may finally be on the horizon. Scientists say the new pill has just been declared safe in clinical trials. Safe, presumably, because it has no side-effects such as weight gain, mood swings and changes in libido. So, it was fine for women to suffer all those side-effects for decades – and to keep experiencing them – but men couldn’t possibly be expected to do the same? Or is our pill bad for our health? It’s an unsolvable mystery. If you’re not convinced that women’s health isn’t as thoroughly researched or well-funded as men’s, how about the fact there have been approximately 32,000 published studies about erectile dysfunction and, up until 2018, fewer than 3,000 on both premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)? Or that start-ups focusing on erectile dysfunction attracted around $1.24 billion of funding from 2019 to 2023, but those focused on endometriosis only received $44 million in the same time frame? FYI, it still takes nearly nine years for women in the UK to get a diagnosis of endometriosis. Erectile dysfunction can be traumatic, but the amount of time, money and effort devoted to studying something that only 19% of men will experience compared to PMS, which affects 90% of women at some point in their lives, feels laughably out of proportion. The fight for information One of the best ways to keep pushing for better medical treatment is to arm yourself with the facts and present them to your GP. But where do you find the facts? There are a huge number of resources available, but you might not even be aware they exist. Research by CensHERship, the campaign to tackle social media censorship of women’s health and sexual wellbeing content, found 95 per cent of women’s health creators experienced some form of censorship in the last year on sites including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn. Clio Wood, co-founder of CensHERship, explains that posts about vaginal cancer, for example, have been banned because they contain the word vagina, which is seen as explicit content by the platforms. “But you don’t see a lot of actual explicit content using the word vagina,” she says. “I know the word ‘pussy’ is used and pussy and vagina might refer to the same thing, but the context is absolutely key here.” In another example, a Spanish breast-feeding support app not only had their ads banned but their entire YouTube channel of advice and support taken down because it was deemed to be sexual content. But ads for Playboy, which did feature naked breasts in clearly sexual content, were approved. “The only difference we can see is that one is for a female audience and one is for the male gaze,” says Clio. Advantage women It’s not all bad news for women’s health, though. There are a number of conditions where we are taken more seriously than men with the same symptoms. Dr Dawn Harper, Embarrassing Bodies presenter and author of Live Well to 101, says, “Osteoporosis is one – any older woman who comes in with a fractured hip or wrist is now given a bone density scan, but we may not routinely offer one to a man.” Autoimmune conditions are also more common in women, so, according to Dr Harper, “We might be more aware of looking for things like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis in a woman presenting with fatigue and joint pain, but we wouldn’t be so quick to think of them as a possible diagnosis in men.” More women tend to be diagnosed with depression than men, but this isn’t because women are naturally predisposed towards depressive illnesses. Dr Harper says, “Women will often be more tearful, lose motivation or confidence, or withdraw – all classic symptoms we might expect to see in somebody’s who’d depressed. “However, a man with depression might be more prone to outbursts of aggression, risky behaviours like gambling or drinking, or becoming obsessed with a new hobby to distract him from real life. If his GP isn’t aware that those are also signs of depression, he could go under the radar.” Women are generally better at talking to healthcare professionals, too. We are much more used to seeing our GP to get contraception, get a smear test or register our children (if we have them). “We have an ongoing relationship with our doctor, so it’s not that intimidating to talk to them about any new health issues,” says Dr Harper. But a lot of men may only need medical help if they get injured doing sports or have an accident – even then, this will only get them to A&E. Dr Harper says, “I’ve known adult men who were still registered with their childhood GP! If they don’t have a relationship with their doctor, it makes it a lot harder to bring up any health worries. So, in that respect, I think women do get a better deal when it comes to our health.” Close the gender health gap It may be a while before there are enough comprehensive studies done on women’s health, for that information to be taught in medical schools and then passed on to practicing healthcare professionals. But it will happen. As long as people like Farideh and Clio keep raising the issue – both in different but equally effective ways – the gender health gap will get smaller. Until then, if your GP tells you to lose weight for a headache or do some meditation for endometriosis, you could just show them this article… * Names changed for privacy
7 of the worst things I've eaten in the name of health in 2025
Healthy food certainly doesn’t need to taste worse. So why were the main trends of the year so revolting? Plus, a nutritionist reveals whether they’re even that good for you…
If you’re looking for healthy and tasty dishes, check out Olive’s collection of budget healthy recipes, high-fibre meals or recipes to help you pack in 30 plant foods. As a food writer, I’ve tested my fair share of weird and wonderful things. But in 2025 I spent most of the year trying to eat better, or – more accurately – trying things the internet claimed were healthy. All in the name of journalism, of course. For me, it was the year of high-protein cakes, neat vinegar, frogspawn-texture breakfasts and olive oil shots at 7 am for “longevity”. A phrase so bleak it made me immediately rush to Pret for a chocolate croissant. Below is my honest audit of the worst things I ate (and drank) in the name of health, plus expert insights from registered nutritionist Zara Hiridjee on whether any of them were actually worth it. 1. Cacao water Up first, cacao water, marketed as “hydration plus antioxidants” and pushed as this sunny, tropical drink that boosts mood, brightens skin and somehow energises you. I’m a sucker for a good sports drink, and was excited at the prospect of a tropical, zingy lemonade. In reality? Nothing of the sort. It’s slightly sweet, a tiny bit acidic, not offensive, just a bit bland. I didn’t get the mood-boosting magic, and my palate wasn’t exactly thanking me for the experience. It hasn’t fully landed in the UK yet, but it’s huge in the US, so I’m sure it’ll be on our shelves soon. At nearly £4 a bottle, though, I’m not convinced. With the explosion of electrolyte powders and hydration tablets, there are far better, and cheaper, ways to quench a thirst. Personally, a pinch of Cornish sea salt in water does more for me than any “supercharged” cacao infusion. Not glamorous, makes me cringe slightly, but absolutely effective. What the nutritionist says: “Cacao water is one of those products that sounds innovative but, nutritionally speaking, doesn’t offer much. People assume that because cacao is rich in antioxidants, cacao water carries similar benefits. However, most of the antioxidant compounds come from the bean and the nib, not the pulp or husk that cacao water is made from. That means by the time it’s filtered, diluted and bottled, the flavanol content is very low, certainly not enough to have a measurable impact on health. That said, it isn’t harmful and is naturally hydrating, so if someone enjoys the taste and it helps them drink more fluids, that’s fine!” What to try instead: olive’s cacao, banana, date and cashew bars are a much tastier way to enjoy cacao. 2. Olive oil shots A personal low point of 2025 but the longevity crowd swore by it. Basically, take a straight shot of oil at 7 am and suddenly you’re an Italian Nonna with glowing skin and an enviable zest for life. Reader, I believed them. I poured out a shot of my most expensive Citizens of Soil bottle, convinced I was about to become that woman. Instead, I immediately realised there is a reason olive oil is meant to be drizzled, gently, lovingly over tomatoes, not thrown down your throat before breakfast. It’s not the flavour that’s the problem. Good olive oil tastes lovely. It’s the texture. A whole mouthful of warm, velvety oil slides down your oesophagus in a way that feels slightly alarming. It coats every surface on the way down. My gums felt moisturised for hours. The Mediterranean diet is wonderful, but it works because of actual meals: vegetables, beans, fish and olive oil on things. What the nutritionist says: “Olive oil shots come from a place of good science, but the idea has been taken a bit further than the evidence supports. Extra-virgin olive oil is genuinely one of the healthiest fats we have, it’s rich in monounsaturated fats and polyphenols, which support heart health and help reduce inflammation. Where things get murky is the belief that drinking it straight somehow boosts those benefits. There’s no strong evidence that taking a shot on an empty stomach offers anything extra. In fact, having olive oil with food may actually help your body absorb certain vitamins and antioxidants more effectively.” What to try instead: Drizzle your olive oil over sliced tomatoes, salads or cooked veggies. 3. Apple cider vinegar Apple cider vinegar had another big year in 2025, fuelled by TikTok nutrition hacks promising everything from better digestion to magic blood-sugar control. The trend? Take a neat shot of ACV every morning “with the mother,” that cloudy, cobweb-like substance that bobs around in the bottle. The burn is immediate. It hits your lips, then your throat, then your stomach in one continuous fiery slide. My eyes watered. And the floaty strands of bacterial culture bobbing around made me feel like I was drinking something out of a Victorian apothecary. It just doesn’t feel normal to stand in your kitchen before work knocking back a shot of something fiery. Here’s the thing: adding a splash of ACV to a salad dressing is lovely and far more civilised. Taking it like a shot of bootleg tequila? Horrendous. What the nutritionist says: “Apple cider vinegar actually has a bit more evidence behind it. The acetic acid can help moderate blood-sugar rises after a carbohydrate-heavy meal by slowing gastric emptying and slightly improving insulin sensitivity. But that doesn’t mean you need to drink it neat. Undiluted vinegar can damage tooth enamel and irritate the throat or stomach, especially if you’re taking it regularly. A tablespoon diluted in plenty of water is more than enough if someone wants to try it and using it in dressings or marinades is an even easier, more sustainable way to include it.” What to try instead: A simple salad dressing of apple cider vinegar, honey, mustard and olive oil. 4. Baking with protein powder I am a big protein powder fan, but in smoothies, with lots of fruit and peanut butter. But with the humungous tub it comes in, I thought I should broaden my horizons in 2025. I made brownies with whey. I made banana bread with whey. I made pancakes with whey. Everything came out with the same miserable energy: dry, rubbery and chalky. Protein powder does many things well, but what it does not do is behave like flour. The moment it hits heat it turns into a strange spongy foam that tastes of disappointment. What the nutritionist says: “Protein powder absolutely has its place but works best when it’s used in ways that actually taste and feel good. For some, it can be a really practical way to meet daily protein needs. Where people run into trouble is when they start baking it into everything. There’s nothing harmful about it, it just isn’t necessary. And it’s worth remembering that not every snack needs to be ‘high protein’. What really matters is your total intake over the day, ideally from a foundation of whole foods.” What to try instead: These pancakes contain a whopping 30g of protein per serving, without any powder in sight. 5. Chia seed pudding While nothing new, chia pudding had a full renaissance this year, pushed as the gut-friendly breakfast. Aesthetically, it looks great on Instagram, but I can’t quite get over the fact it feels like frogspawn and tastes thick, gelatinous and cold. I want to like it. I tried adding berries, cinnamon, fancy milks, all the toppings. But there is no escaping the fact that chia seeds can swell to the size and texture of tapioca balls and turn your breakfast into something that feels mildly amphibian. I also regrettably tried what TikTok was describing as “the internal shower”, mixing chia seeds, lemon juice, water and (if you’re truly unhinged) psyllium husk. Then drink it quickly “before it gels”. My verdict? Don’t. What the nutritionist says: “Chia seeds have earned their place in the wellness world, even if they’ve been a little overhyped at times. They’re genuinely nutritious, rich in soluble fibre, which helps slow digestion, steady blood sugar and keep you feeling full for longer. They also provide plant-based omega-3s, magnesium, calcium and antioxidants, so a small amount does go a long way. The key is how you use them. A chia pudding can absolutely be a balanced breakfast, but it’s important to add some protein and healthy fats so it isn’t just fibre on its own. Mixing chia with milk or yoghurt and topping it with fruit or nuts is usually enough, a few tablespoons is all you need to get the benefits. The ‘internal shower’ drink is where things get a bit unnecessary and isn’t any more effective than simply eating enough fibre and staying hydrated. It won’t harm most people in small amounts, but too much fibre at once without enough fluid can actually make you feel bloated or uncomfortable.” What to try instead: Try sprinkling chia on top of your smoothie bowl or yoghurt without soaking them, for the nutrition without the goo. 6. Sea moss gel Sea moss gel was crowned the superfood of early 2025, touted as containing “92 essential minerals” and capable of transforming energy, digestion and skin. I bought a jar in a moment of weakness (and targeted ads). It looks like translucent jelly and tastes like the inside of a tide pool. Mixed into smoothies, it adds a faintly marine flavour and a texture that’s more specimen jar than superfood. It sat in my fridge for two weeks before I admitted defeat and threw it away. Even the bin seemed offended. What the nutritionist says: “Sea moss gel is one of those wellness trends that exploded online because it sounds incredibly nutrient-rich, but the science behind it is still pretty limited. Sea moss (or Irish moss) is a type of red seaweed, and like most seaweeds, it does contain iodine, potassium, magnesium and other trace minerals. Those nutrients are real, but the actual amounts depend entirely on where the moss was grown, how it was processed, and how much you’re taking. By the time it’s blended into a gel, those levels can vary massively. The most consistent benefit is likely the iodine, which supports healthy thyroid function, but that can be a double-edged sword. Too much can actually disrupt thyroid hormone balance, especially if you’re already getting iodine from other foods or supplements. That’s why it’s important not to overdo it or assume that more equals better.” What to try instead: Different seaweeds have different nutrition profiles, but most are good sources of various minerals. Japanese food is a great place to incorporate some naturally into your diet. 7. Savoury protein pudding No trend shocked me quite as much as savoury protein pudding: cold, oaty or silky puddings flavoured with things like bone broth. I watched people online make ones with chicken gravy, eggs and chia seeds loaded up with salad. I’ll admit one variation almost fooled me. It was cottage cheese blended with olives, tomatoes and herbs, and it actually looked delicious… until I remembered that, fundamentally, it was still a chia-heavy pudding masquerading as lunch. And look, I know in some cultures savoury puddings are a delicacy (like Turkish milk pudding, and Sichuan tofu pudding which I think I’d genuinely love), but these 2025 interpretations were not that. What the nutritionist says: “The ingredients in these savoury ‘protein puddings’ aren’t the issue – eggs, cottage cheese and chia seeds are all nutritious. The problem is the form. When you blend everything into a pudding-like texture, you lose the taste and sensory satisfaction that come from eating a normal meal. You may get the nutrients, but it’s rarely filling or enjoyable, and that can actually lead to more cravings later. You’ll get the same benefits, and usually far more pleasure, by eating those ingredients in a simple, balanced meal.” What to try instead: Pretty much anything! But these high-protein meals are a good place to start. I’ve finally accepted that the best health hack is painfully unsexy, just eat a balanced diet. It’s not glamorous and it won’t get viral, but it’s the best thing to do. While part of me is still on the hunt for that miracle superfood, if 2025 taught me anything, it’s this: don’t take your nutrition advice from social media health warriors unless they actually have qualifications. A lab coat emoji in a bio does not a dietitian make.
Find out where to go for the best windswept winter walks along the coast - plus where to eat and drink to warm afterwards
Who says Britain's beaches are just for summer? On a crisp, sunny winter day, there's nothing better than wrapping up warm for a brisk walk along the coast, taking in the wide views and enjoying the quiet after summer crowds have long gone. From fish shacks on the sand in Tynemouth to dramatic sweeps of coastline in Northumberland, these are some of the best beaches around the UK to visit in winter. Plus, we've included the best restaurants, cafes or pubs you need to visit after your walk as a reward to warm up. For more winter travel inspiration, check out our 8 magical winter travel experiences for food lovers, best winter city breaks and the UK's best festive day trips. 9 best UK beaches to visit in winter King Edward’s Bay, Tynemouth It might not be the prettiest beach, but this small sandy bay enclosed by cliffs has a secret that makes it well worth the steep stairs down. It’s home to Riley’s Fish Shack, one of the best beachside restaurants around. And with the summer crowds long gone, only the hardcore fans make the chilly pilgrimage, rewarded with wood-grilled seafood straight off the fire. Aldeburgh, Suffolk Aldeburgh’s long, stony sweep may not be the place for barefoot paddling, but in winter it turns wonderfully still – a pretty, pastel-lined seafront where the North Sea feels close enough to touch. Base yourself at The Suffolk, where owner George Pell has beautifully restored the townhouse hotel with quietly elegant rooms and food worth travelling for. With summer gone, the queues for fish and chips at Golden Galleon or Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop finally ease, but you’ll still be jostling with locals at bakery Two Magpies for bread with proper heft and pastries that vanish fast. Pubs are aplenty, but the White Hart Inn is the one locals point you towards. It’s what I call a ‘proper boozer’ where locals spill out onto the pavement in their sandy Birkenstocks in summer but come winter, they wrap up indoors alongside the super cute pub cat. Embleton Bay, Northumberland My husband’s favourite beach in the world, Embleton Bay is dramatic, wide and so windswept in winter it can almost knock you sideways, but that’s exactly what makes you feel so alive. The sweep of sand seems to go on forever, with Dunstanburgh Castle looming in the distance like a piece of perfectly placed scenery. After a bracing walk, warm up at The Ship Inn in Low Newton, a proper local favourite with its own microbrewery. Keep following the coast path to Craster for its famous kippers or grab a table at The Jolly Fisherman for crab overlooking the harbour. Stay in one of the many cosy seaside cottages in nearby Bamburgh, then book dinner at The Potted Lobster, a must for seafood lovers. Mawgan Porth, Cornwall Tucked between Newquay and Padstow, Mawgan Porth is a wide, wild crescent of sand that feels wonderfully elemental in winter. The Atlantic barrels straight in, the wind scours the dunes, and even a short walk leaves you riding that salt-stung, alive-again feeling. Warm up at The Scarlet, a grown-up, eco-minded escape perched high above the beach; its clifftop hot tubs and Ayurvedic-inspired spa make it one of Cornwall’s most soothing winter hideaways. If you want something more casual, wander to Catch or The Merrymoor Inn for seafood-led menus. And when you’re ready to explore, Padstow is just up the coast for bakeries, shops and harbourside pottering, or make the trip to Rock for a long lunch at Paul Ainsworth’s pub, The Mariners. Three Cliffs Bay, Gower Beautiful, rugged and blissfully quiet in winter, Three Cliffs Bay is one of the Gower’s most dramatic stretches of coastline. At low tide, the sands of Three Cliffs, Pobbles, Tor and Oxwich sweep together into one vast, walkable expanse; at high tide, they pull apart again into separate coves. It’s not a spot for winter dipping (the rip tides are notoriously strong) but for photography, hiking and that edge-of-the-world feeling, it’s unbeatable. If the tide and weather play ball, you can follow the coastal path around to Oxwich Bay, home to Beach House, where Hywel Griffith serves refined, deeply rooted Welsh cooking right on the shoreline. For a gentle base, stay in Mumbles for a slow, sea-breezy weekend: wander the pier, graze through indie shops and spend your evenings pub-hopping, BeerRiff and other local breweries make it an easy place to settle in after a day on the coast. Bantham Beach, Devon One of my favourite beaches in Devon, Bantham is all rolling dunes, a wide estuary and knockout views across to Burgh Island. Rugged, scenic and blissfully quiet, this corner of Devon really comes into its own once the crowds disappear. In winter it’s dramatic, wind-whipped and perfect for long walks that end at The Sloop Inn, or Outside, a relaxed spot created by Paddy Wellens and musician Ben Howard. Across the water, Bigbury-on-Sea offers another huge sweep of sand and the iconic crossing to Burgh Island, where an overnight stay feels wonderfully otherworldly. The Oyster Shack is a go-to in summer, but winter brings shorter hours (and a full January closure), so always check ahead. Botany Bay, Kent Framed by chalk stacks and sheer white cliffs, Botany Bay is one of the most photogenic beaches on the Thanet coast, and in winter, with the crowds gone, its quiet, otherworldly mood really lands. The tide pulls back to reveal wide stretches of sand and rockpools made for brisk walks and moody seascapes (though the strong currents mean it’s strictly a look-but-don’t-dip spot in colder months). Warm up in Broadstairs, where Kebbell’s leads the charge for smart, seafood-focused plates. For a longer weekend, I’m a big fan of Margate (basically East London by the sea) where you’re spoilt for choice with food and drink. Think Sargasso, Angela’s, Sète, Louie on Sea, High Dive and a whole run of indie cafés and bars to hole up in when the weather turns. Check out our guide to the best restaurants in Margate for all our top picks. Aberlady Bay, East Lothian Sweeping dunes, wide-open sands and a constant salt-sharp wind make Aberlady Bay one of East Lothian’s most exhilarating winter beaches. The nature reserve feels wonderfully remote once the season turns, all big skies, birdlife and long, quiet walks out towards the old wrecks at low tide. Just along the coast, Gullane offers another beautiful sweep of sand backed by dunes and golf courses, with a gentler, villagey feel. Stay at Tom Aikens’ The Bonnie Badger in Gullane, a warm, design-led inn that does comfort brilliantly, and book dinner at La Potinière, an icon in the Scottish hospitality scene. North Berwick also makes an excellent base, with independent shops, wine bars and the always-busy Steampunk Coffee for post-walk caffeine. And with Edinburgh only 40 minutes away, this stretch of coastline is easy to reach making a perfect winter double act of wild walks and city exploring. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/2/2025/12/GettyImages-1032848070-befd8f9.jpg" width="724" height="483" alt="Mini Subs: UK, Scotland, East Lothian, Aberlady: Wrecks of WW2 midget submarines, exposed at low tide on a sand bar and accessible to visit twice a day are two Royal Navy XT class midget submarines... Here is the known history of them: This is one of two of the six midget submarines class XT (T - Training) built by Vickers-Armstrong Ltd; They were manned by a crew of 4; The ship`s were 52ft long and 5ft in diameter; Their range was generally taken to be 500 nautical miles surfaced and 82 nautical miles submerged; At a speed of 6.5 and 5.5 Knots and powered by a Gardner diesel engine (as was used in a London bus!) on the surface and battery propulsion below the surface..." title="UK, Scotland, Aberlady, coast with submarine wreck at sunset" /> Runswick Bay, North Yorkshire With its red-roofed cottages tumbling down the cliffside and a long, sheltered sweep of sand, Runswick Bay is one of the prettiest winter beaches on the Yorkshire coast. It feels quiet and cocooning once the colder months arrive, and it sits perfectly between a run of gorgeous fishing villages, from storybook Robin Hood’s Bay to my personal favourite, Staithes, with its steep lanes, artists’ studios and proper old harbour. From Runswick, you can walk or drive up the coast to Sandsend, home to the boutique Saltmoore spa hotel and one of the county’s best low-key lunch stops, Mary’s Sandwich Shop. Or keep heading north into Whitby for fish-and-chips and obligatory arcades (my go-to is Magpie Café). More UK restaurant guides Best restaurants in Deal Best restaurants in Birmingham Best restaurants in St Albans Best restaurants in Bristol Best restaurants in Edinburgh Best restaurants in York Best restaurants in Whitstable Best restaurants in Oxford Best restaurants in Cambridge Best restaurants in Margate Best restaurants in Manchester Best restaurants in Glasgow Best restaurants in the Lake District